Hajj2025: Special Report - HOW WE CONDUCTS OUR HAJJ OPERATIONS - Pilgrims from Katsina State
By Kabir Ahmed S/Kuka
Like other pilgrims around the world, pilgrims from Katsina State were among those who performed the 2025 Hajj Operations which began with a visit to the grave of the most noble creation, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other places in Medina, up to their return to Mecca to perform Umrah and await the great day of performing this year Hajj, the Day of Arafah. The pilgrims were able to performed Arafah on Thursday, 9th Zulhajj 1446, which corresponds to June 5, 2025. After performing this duty, the pilgrims proceeded to Muzdalifah where they spent the night on their way to Jamrat to perform the first stoning and the first circumambulation, as well as the Sa'ayi between Safa and Marwa after completing the Arafah.
Our correspondent was able to contact some of the pilgrims via mobile phone to hear from them about how they carried out this task. Alhaji Salisu, said, "Although this is my first time in this operation, I honestly did not think I would be able to relax and have the opportunity to do it as I have heard about how the operation is done. From the beginning, before I left our town which I will not tell you, I started to feel relaxed by the way we were received in Katsina before boarding the plane. I am satisfied with the way the officials of this Hajj Welfare Agency took care of us, even though, sometimes we did not get some information that we should have received during the flight delays. But honestly, until now, what I am talking to you here in Mecca, if it was said that the operation must have some problems that arise every year, then I would say, I have not faced any problems. Hajiya Badiya Bakori said, the way women were treated, honestly in the past years she did not expect that. "I have been doing the Hajj for years, but the way I saw this year, the way we women were treated, it gave me a surprised. Unlike previous time where the announcement of disappearance members was enough to heard. The only necessary actions to be taken by some officials who have been given responsibility, especially those in local government, should give more effort because it is a heavy task for them. I have noticed that some of them are new to the work, but that will not stop them from consulting their superiors. And the issue of warning, we have indeed learned a lot from our female preachers. I do not have to say that any preacher, they have tried their best.
Alhaji Aminu Ahmad Wali, regular Hajj attended and is the chairman of the Katsina State Independent Petroleum Maketers Association of Nigeria IPMAN, and the chairman of the state youth sports association, commended the agencies involved in this Hajj Operations from the state. Alhaji Aminu said that he has niticed some changes right from home in Nigeria. He has been observing the arrangements made for this year, which have brought in some new ones. "I came on the first flight, but even in the matter of the sermon on observing Saudi laws given to the pilgrims, it was very effective. And no pilgrim I heard complained about not being given a document or anything that would protect his dignity, for example, Identity certificate card with a person's photo. And I can recalled when we were in Medina, though all the services are under the control of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), but did not stop the state welfare officers from helping their people". Alhaji Aminu added that what impressed him the most was how the Amirul Hajj kept going around among the state pilgrims to see if there was anyone complaining or having any problems so that action could be taken. "That is, to be honest, in my place, this time Governor Malam Dikko has appointed a brave leader. This man is the Deputy Governor of the state, but if you see how he is involved in the people, you will be surprised. The most impressive thing about him is that during our stay in Minna. He is also the Deputy Governor, but he followed closely to see the situation. Finally, he is the one who arranges the beds for the pilgrims. Look at the size of the Deputy Governor's chair and the leader of the pilgrims, but he arranges the place for the person in the countryside who is used to sleeping anywhere, but the Deputy Governor helps to arrange his bed. This is not a small arrangement and progress in this year's Hajj. For me, since I have been going to this operation for a long time, I have never heard or seen anything like that," said Alhaji Aminu Wali.
When our correspondent was trying to call another pilgrim, he was interrupted by a Fulani man who said, the phone is in his hand, the owner is not here. The reporter used this opportunity to speak through this Fulani. "Do you want to know my name? I am Alhaji Bammi. Honestly, if to say I may be asked my opinion, I would say, I love to left here up the end of my life. Oh, how sweet it is. Every day a person eats chicken and drinks oranges? Oh, Malam, is this not what a person wants to get in heaven? By God, if to say sleep is a thief, I would have said that I should not sleep. A person sees the house of God physically then what else would he want? When asked what impressed him most, he said, apart from visiting the Prophet's grave and making the Dawaf of the house of Allah, then it is the day he became a full Alhaji, that is, performing Arfa. "Well, I will tell you, apart from those, I also said, seeing the Deputy Governor, and there was no obstacle for him. I even moved closer to him when learned that he was the one. I never see him physically. Habawa, and then the day I saw Governor Dikko Radda. After we were told that he paid for us the Hadaya fee, and with my own ears I heard him give us 300 Saudi riyals. I even bought a necklace for my wife out of that money, if you were around I would have shown it to you".
Alhaji Almu Hamisu called on the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, to return the responsibility of managing health and hajj services to the states during the Minna session. "Now, if it were not for the Katsina State government sending a delegation of health workers, I assure you that the issue of the heat of the day that Saudi Arabia warned to be careful, would have been enough to worry about. But the workers did their best to warn. And another thing is, even the way the hajj was arranged and the bedding was installed, but here is the Deputy Governor/Amirul Hajj of the state coming on his own and making some necessary arrangements, saying that the state and NAHCON paid for it without doing anything, he became the supervisor, and all these things would not have happened. I really appreciate the Amirul Hajji and the other officials of the State Hajj Welfare Board. They did their best.
When we contacted some officials of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, though not successed, but we met one and asked not to be named, said, "In all my long service in this agency, I have never seen or worked with an Amirul Hajji like this. Despite the fact that he is the Deputy Governor and Amirul Hajji, by God, we in our on side said we are grateful. He gave every person his right, and he stands by everyone who stands by his work. Where he sees improvement, without any fuss or showing off, he points out the improvement or gives advice. No one can be said to have been hindered in his work. We are truly grateful, especially to His Excellency the Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, for this appointment of Amirul Hajji and his other officials. Most of the pilgrims we contacted expressed their happiness and gratitude to the Governor, especially for taking the responsibility of making offerings and giving them 300 Riyals as "Barka da salla" which helped them immensely. They also praised him for, and the kind of food they were given as if they were at home.