By Yunusa Muhammad
Pilgrims from Kaduna State are back home, and everyone involved is calling the 2025 Hajj a big win! All 4,034 pilgrims safely completed their spiritual journey, and officials and pilgrims alike are praising how well everything was organized. This year's Hajj truly stands out for Kaduna.
The success of this year's Hajj started months before anyone even left. The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency made sure all registered pilgrims in the 23 local government areas were well-prepared. For over 15 weekends, prospective pilgrims learned about Hajj rituals and how to behave in Saudi Arabia. On top of that, everyone got important vaccinations to meet Saudi health rules.
At the start of the journey, pilgrims noticed a big improvement at the Hajj Transit Camp. Thanks to State Governor Malam Uba Sani's unwavering support and the diligent work of the Special Committee overseeing the Agency under Chairman Malam Salihu Abubakar, the camp was completely updated and given a new face. This made the start of the journey much more comfortable for everyone.
The camp ran very smoothly. Special feeding arrangements ensured each pilgrim received meals (one or two, depending on how long they stayed), and critically, no pilgrim waited more than 12 hours before flying to Saudi Arabia. This quick process helped pilgrims feel ready for their trip.
During the farewell ceremony, Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Hajiya Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, asked the pilgrims to be good representatives of Kaduna State and Nigeria. He urged them to pray for peace and unity in the state and the nation.
To guide the pilgrims and ensure their comfort throughout the sacred journey, the state Governor appointed 74 Hajj officials, including the Amirul Hajj Emir of Kauru, Alhaji Ya’u Shehu Usman. For the first time, the state-appointed Amirul Hajj, Emir of Kauru, Alhaji Ya’u Shehu Usman, was actively involved throughout the pilgrimage. He stayed with the pilgrims and led visits to holy sites in Madinah. He also guided them through important rituals in Makkah. On the important Day of Arafat, he led fervent prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and for Nigeria's success and unity.
Kaduna pilgrims showed excellent behavior. Two pilgrims, Shafiu Abdul'azz and Sha’aban Sidi, made the state proud by finding and returning money and documents that belonged to people from Mali and Algeria. Their honesty was highly praised.
Keeping pilgrims well-fed was a top priority. The Agency provided two meals a day in Madinah and Makkah, and three meals a day during the five important days in Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat. Pilgrims also enjoyed familiar Nigerian foods like "Tuwon Shinkafa" with various soups.
Sadly, four pilgrims from Kaduna State (three women and one man) passed away in Makkah. May their souls rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
The return trip was also well-organized. Pilgrims were reminded about the 32kg luggage limit. Everyone arrived back in Kaduna safely with their bags. As a special gift, each pilgrim received five liters of Zamzam water when they picked up their luggage at the Mando Hajj Transit Camp.
Reflecting on the experience, pilgrims interviewed expressed profound satisfaction. Many described the 2025 Hajj operation as a "huge success." They pointed to the efficient organization, improved facilities, strong leadership, consistent provision of nourishing local meals, and overall smooth execution as key factors.
The collective effort of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, under the guidance of the Special Committee led by Chairman Malam Salihu Abubakar, and the enabling support of Governor Uba Sani, has undoubtedly set a new benchmark for Hajj operations in the state.
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