Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has pledged his administration’s support for the success of the 2025 Hajj operations.

Mr Zulum made the commitment when the management of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by its chairman, Abdullahi Saleh Usman, visited him on Friday in Maiduguri.

“As the Governor of Borno State, I will do everything humanly possible and exercise the political will to ensure the success of the Hajj exercise.

“Borno is among the leading states committed to Hajj activities in the country,” Mr Zulum said.

The governor congratulated Mr Usman on his appointment and reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders for seamless Hajj operations in 2025 and beyond.

Mr Zulum, however, lauded their successes during the 2024 Hajj, especially the airlift of pilgrims as scheduled and the provision of decent accommodation in Saudi Arabia.

He urged the NAHCON to address challenges related to VIP accommodation in Mina and Arafah.

The governor also spoke on the need for the commission to establish a realistic benchmark for Hajj fares, noting that fluctuating exchange rates greatly affected the 2024 Hajj.

“Providing interim figures for Hajj fares will allow state pilgrim’s boards to begin preparations in advance while making room for necessary adjustments,” Mr Zulum said.

Responding, Mr Usman assured the governor of the commission’s commitment to reforms that would guarantee a seamless 2025 Hajj.

He said that committees had been set up to oversee airline selection, feeding and accommodation arrangements for the pilgrims.

Mr Usman also announced that a discussion was ongoing between the commission and the service providers for the perfection of transactions in naira as a way of reducing the cost of Hajj fares.

(NAN)