President inaugurates hajj 2015 flight to Saudi Arabia

chika ebuzor

August 24, 2015 7:41 AM

Buhari congratulated Kaduna state for being chosen for the inaugural flight and expressed hope that the 2015 hajj would be the best in the history of Nigeria.

President Buhari

President Mohammadu Buhari on Sunday inaugurated Muslim pilgrims flight to Saudi Arabia for 2015.

Buhari, represented by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, performed the ceremony at the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna.

"Our country is going through very challenging times and we will need all the prayers we can have and the best place to do that for the Muslim Umma is in Saudi Arabia," the President said.

He said the Federal Government was committed to reducing the cost of pilgrimage and involvement of government in the exercise.

"I agree with the views of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs that hajj, if properly organized, should add value to the Nigerian economy rather than take from it. Accordingly, I approve the constitution of a very thorough and effective Central Coordinating Team of Muslim Leaders to oversee the hajj this year," he said.

Buhari said the leader of the hajj coordinating team is the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

chika ebuzor