Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has urged intending pilgrims from Adamawa State to be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Awwal D. Tukur, Governor Fintiri gave the charge on Thursday at the Lamido Aliyu Musdafa International Airport, Yola, while bidding farewell to the first batch of 486 intending pilgrims airlifted for the spiritual exercise.
He enjoined the pilgrims to pray fervently for peace, unity, and progress of Adamawa State and Nigeria as a whole, while upholding the teachings of Islam and conducting themselves with dignity throughout the pilgrimage.
The Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission, Malam Abubakar Salihu, attributed the successful take-off of the inaugural flight to the unwavering support and commitment of the Fintiri-led administration.
Governor Fintiri was accompanied to the airport by the Emir of Fufore, Alhaji Sani Ahmadu Ribadu, who also serves as the Amirul Hajj 2025, alongside other top officials and dignitaries.
In a related development, Malam Abubakar Salihu was widely commended for his thorough planning and dedicated implementation of Hajj arrangements, which ensured the smooth and hitch-free departure of the first batch of pilgrims.
Speaking at Prince Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, some of the pilgrims described the operation as seamless and well-organized, expressing appreciation to the state government for the befitting accommodation provided at Mamma Chare Hotel in Yola, which served as a Hajj camp.