Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has praised the successful coordination of the 2025 Hajj exercise, commending the dedication and professionalism of the State Hajj Committee.
He also assured pilgrims and stakeholders of continued government support to ensure smooth operations in future pilgrimages.
The governor made the remarks while receiving members of the Hajj Committee at the Government House in Yola, led by the Amirul Hajj and Emir of Fufore, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Ribadu.
Fintiri described the 2025 pilgrimage as “hitch-free and well-organized,” crediting the success to the integrity and commitment of the committee members.
He pledged that his administration would carefully review the committee’s recommendations and improve on future planning, particularly in line with new financial guidelines introduced by Saudi Arabia.
“Adamawa has consistently shown its commitment to ensuring that pilgrims perform Hajj without difficulty. We will continue to provide timely financial support and logistical assistance,” Governor Fintiri said.
In his remarks, Amirul Hajj Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Ribadu thanked the state government for its support, which he said was instrumental to the successful completion of the pilgrimage. He confirmed that all Adamawa pilgrims performed their religious rites without major challenges.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission, Malam Abubakar Salihu, disclosed that out of 1,037 visas allocated to the state, 1,034 pilgrims successfully took part in the Hajj. He noted that ₦6.8 billion was remitted to the National Hajj Commission, leading to significant improvements in transportation, feeding, and general welfare.
Salihu highlighted a major achievement: for the first time, brand-new vehicles were stationed at pilgrims’ hotels to ease transportation—a model now attracting interest from other states. He added that pilgrims enjoyed uninterrupted feeding throughout their stay in Makkah and Madinah.
However, Salihu raised concerns about the performance of the designated airline, Umza Aviation Services, which he said caused delays and incurred extra costs. He advised the state to consider other carriers for future pilgrimages.
He also cautioned that the revised Hajj calendar introduced by Saudi authorities—requiring states to finance two pilgrimages within a single fiscal year—could place a heavy financial burden on states. Salihu urged the Federal Government to intervene diplomatically to ease the pressure on state finances.