Kaduna State Government on Wednesday officially flagged off the 2026 Hajj exercise, with Governor Uba Sani urging intending pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and sustainable development in Nigeria during their stay in the Holy Land.
Speaking at the Mando Hajj Transit Camp in Kaduna, the governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, congratulated the intending pilgrims for witnessing another Hajj season and thanked Allah for granting them the opportunity to fulfil one of the five pillars of Islam.
She prayed for their safe journey to Saudi Arabia and successful return, while calling on them to remember Kaduna State and Nigeria in their prayers.
According to her, the administration of Governor Uba Sani has taken deliberate measures to ensure the comfort and welfare of pilgrims from their departure to their stay in Saudi Arabia and eventual return home.
Dr Balarabe said the government had remodelled and upgraded the Mando Hajj Camp with modern facilities to guarantee seamless Hajj operations.
She listed some of the projects executed at the camp to include a state-of-the-art ICT centre, an ultra-modern hall and upgraded office facilities aimed at improving services for pilgrims.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, commended Governor Uba Sani for his consistent support to the agency, saying the governor had never rejected any request aimed at improving pilgrims’ welfare.
He disclosed that Kaduna pilgrims secured one of the best accommodations in Makkah, located close to Masjid Al-Haram, popularly known as the Grand Mosque.
According to him, intending pilgrims would be transported from the Hajj camp to the Kaduna International Airport by 2am using the CNG buses donated by the governor to the agency.
Malam Salihu also praised the governor for supporting infrastructural development at the Hajj camp, noting that the upgraded facilities had transformed the Mando Transit Camp into a more conducive environment for pilgrims.
In his remarks, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, advised the intending pilgrims to obey the laws of Saudi Arabia and avoid carrying prohibited items into the Holy Land.
The emir specifically cautioned against taking kola nuts and other condiments to Saudi Arabia, noting that such items were unnecessary and could create avoidable problems.
He also warned pilgrims against accepting luggage from anybody for safe keeping either at the Kaduna airport or in Saudi Arabia, regardless of their relationship with such persons.
According to him, experience has shown that some of such bags may contain illicit drugs, stressing that drug trafficking attracts the death penalty under Saudi Arabian law.
