Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has commended the successful coordination of the 2025 Hajj exercise, praising the state Hajj Committee for its professionalism and assuring continued government support for future pilgrimages.
Receiving the committee at the Government House in Yola, the governor lauded the leadership of the Amirul Hajj, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Ribadu, Emir of Fufore.
He attributed the smooth execution of the pilgrimage to the integrity and dedication of committee members and assured that their recommendations would be carefully reviewed to improve future operations.
Fintiri emphasized the importance of aligning the state’s Hajj preparations with new financial regulations introduced by Saudi Arabia.
“Adamawa has consistently demonstrated commitment to ensuring its citizens perform Hajj without difficulty. We will continue to provide timely funding and logistical support,” he said.
Amirul Hajj Alhaji Ribadu expressed appreciation for the government’s backing, noting it was crucial to the successful execution of the pilgrimage.
He confirmed that all pilgrims completed their religious rites without major setbacks.
Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission, Malam Abubakar Salihu, reported that out of 1,037 visas allocated to the state, 1,034 pilgrims participated.
A total of ₦6.8 billion was remitted to the National Hajj Commission, enabling improvements in transportation, feeding, and welfare services.
Salihu highlighted a key milestone: for the first time, new vehicles were deployed to transport pilgrims from their hotels, an initiative now being adopted by other states as a model for efficient Hajj logistics. Pilgrims also received uninterrupted feeding throughout their stay in Makkah and Madinah.
However, Salihu raised concerns over Umza Aviation Services, the airline contracted for the exercise, citing delays and additional costs.
He recommended the state government consider alternative carriers in future exercises.
Salihu warned that Saudi Arabia’s revised Hajj calendar, which requires financing two pilgrimages within a single fiscal year, could strain state resources.
He called on the Federal Government to engage diplomatically with Saudi authorities to mitigate the financial burden on Nigerian states.
