Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation dedicated to advocating for effective Hajj and Umrah policies, has commended the governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, for allocating Hajj seats to local government pilgrim officers ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise.
In a statement issued to journalists by the national coordinator, IHR, Ibrahim Muhammad, the organisation praised the governor’s proactive approach, describing it as a move that will significantly enhance the welfare of Jigawa State pilgrims.
“We applaud the decision of His Excellency to appoint local pilgrims’ officers as Hajj officials for the 2025 pilgrimage. This decision will greatly improve the welfare and experience of Jigawa pilgrims during the forthcoming Hajj,” he said.
The group noted that local Hajj officials play a crucial role in the pilgrimage process, as they are often the first point of contact for pilgrims within their communities.
“These officials are responsible for registering the pilgrims and, being from the same localities, enable closer and more effective communication between pilgrims and officials throughout the Hajj process,” he added.
The group also urged other state governors to emulate Governor Namadi’s initiative by allocating Hajj slots to those directly serving pilgrims in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
“States should adopt a merit-based approach when appointing Hajj officials. Such measures will ensure better service delivery, accountability, and an improved standard of welfare for pilgrims,” he said.
He said that in addition to the seat allocations, Governor Namadi has approved and disbursed N1.8 billion as operational funds to the Jigawa State Muslim Pilgrims Board, a move IHR described as further proof of his commitment to the success of Hajj operations.
The group also praised the director general of the Jigawa State Muslim Pilgrims Board for implementing reforms to enhance service delivery.
He further emphasised that federal and state Hajj officials must prioritise the welfare of pilgrims at every stage of the exercise.
It will be recalled that Governor Namadi was honoured as the “Hajj Governor of the Year” by IHR during its 2024 Annual Hajj Lecture and Award Ceremony, which was held in September last year.
