By Abdulkadir Aliyu Shehu
As the 2025 Hajj season reaches its spiritual peak, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, has commended the unwavering discipline, devotion, and patience of the Gombe State pilgrims throughout their sacred journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In an exclusive interview with PERISCOPE NIGERIA, Alhaji Sa’adu began by expressing deep gratitude to Allah for the safe arrival and successful activities of all Gombe State pilgrims in Madinah and Makkah.
“First and foremost, we thank Almighty Allah for the safe arrival of our two flights into the city of Madinah. We were able to visit the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid Nabawi, and send salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” he said.
He noted that pilgrims also offered prayers at the graves of the Prophet’s closest companions, Sayyiduna Abubakar As-Siddiq and Sayyiduna Umar ibn Khattab (RA), located within the Prophet’s Mosque precincts.
Pilgrims were also taken to other key religious sites, including the historic graveyard of Baqi’a, the battlefield of Uhud, and the blessed Masjid Quba — all of which hold immense significance in the Islamic faith.
Alhaji Sa’adu revealed that the Board was allocated four days in Madinah, during which the pilgrims engaged in various spiritual and religious activities to prepare their hearts for the Hajj proper.
“We did face some minor logistical challenges upon arrival, especially with accommodation. There was a delay that caused some pilgrims to remain in the buses for a while,” he admitted.
“But with the help of our dedicated officials and the cooperation of the NAHCON officials, we were able to sort things out quickly. Everyone was eventually accommodated and comfortable,” he added.
After their stay in Madinah, the entire contingent safely moved to Makkah, where they lodged at Masfalah — an area known for its proximity to the Haram and good infrastructure.
The Executive Secretary confirmed that preparations were complete for the movement to Mina, the next spiritual phase of the pilgrimage, expected to commence that very night.
Addressing the issue of access to the Rawdah, Alhaji Sa’adu admitted that a large number of pilgrims, both Nigerian and international, struggled to enter the sacred area due to strict scheduling and crowd control measures by Saudi authorities.
“It’s true,” he said, “even at our national-level preparation meeting, we discussed this. Not more than 13% of Nigerian pilgrims, including those from Gombe, were able to enter Rawdah this year.”
He noted that new digital appointment systems and tighter quotas made access difficult, and promised that the Board would work with NAHCON to advocate for more favourable arrangements next year.
On a more positive note, Alhaji Sa’adu spoke warmly of the appreciation shown by Gombe State pilgrims towards the state government, especially Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for the quality of services provided.
“We’ve received countless messages of thanks from our pilgrims. The Governor’s efforts — especially regarding good accommodation, clean and healthy food, and general welfare — have been widely acknowledged,” he said.
“We thank Allah for the wisdom and guidance He granted us to carry out this sacred operation,” he added. “We pray for all our pilgrims to conduct a peaceful and accepted Hajj and return home safely.”
The Board has already begun the critical movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Mina, where they will spend the night in preparation for the Day of Arafat — the climax of Hajj.
Alhaji Sa’adu confirmed that accommodation in Mina was well-prepared and located close to the Jamarat (stoning site), with full facilities including air-conditioned tents, restrooms, and water supply.
“Our pilgrims are being taken care of with the utmost consideration for their comfort and safety,” he said. “Every logistical step was pre-arranged to ensure smooth movement.”
For the Day of Arafat, he disclosed that the Board had secured catering services from one of the most reputable restaurants in the world to provide world-class and nourishing meals to the pilgrims, as a compliment from Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
“This is not just a Saudi-based restaurant, but one with a global reputation,” he stressed. “We wanted our pilgrims to feel special on this most important day of their lives.”
In a heartwarming move, Governor Inuwa Yahaya also approved a gift of 200 Saudi Riyals to every pilgrim as a Sallah token on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, known as Goron Sallah, to enhance their joy and celebration.
“This gesture is a reflection of a compassionate and visionary leader who puts the needs of his people above everything else,” Alhaji Sa’adu said.
He then offered a personal prayer: “May Allah protect and guide His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. Gombe is truly blessed to have such a leader.”
The Executive Secretary took time to commend the pilgrims themselves, describing them as law-abiding, spiritually focused, and respectful throughout their stay in the holy land.
“We haven’t recorded a single report of any misconduct or breach of law by any of our pilgrims. Their discipline has made our job much easier,” he said.
Alhaji Sa’adu assured that the Pilgrims Welfare Board remains fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of Gombe pilgrims, from their arrival in Saudi Arabia to their final return to Nigeria.
“Our team is working round the clock with religious scholars, doctors, guides, and logistics staff. We are one family on this sacred journey,” he stated.
In closing, he said, “We ask Allah to accept our Hajj, to reward the Governor and the good people of Gombe, and to return all pilgrims to their homes with renewed faith and good health.”
As the movement from Mina to Arafat and later to Muzdalifah and back to Mina continues, Gombe State stands out as a model of well-organised, spiritually rewarding, and people-centred Hajj operations in 2025.
