Abba Yusuf has cautioned intending pilgrims from Kano State to avoid all forms of misconduct while in Saudi Arabia and to represent both the state and Nigeria positively during the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
The governor gave the warning while addressing the first batch of 560 pilgrims scheduled to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, Yusuf urged the pilgrims to fear God and conduct themselves responsibly throughout their stay in the Holy Land.
“We believe our pilgrims are wonderful people and will not engage in any shameful act capable of denting the image of the state,” the governor said.
He added that the state government had arranged medical support, including a healthcare team and hospital services, to cater for any pilgrim who falls ill during the pilgrimage.
According to Yusuf, the government had made adequate arrangements to ensure the comfort and welfare of the pilgrims both in Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia.
He disclosed that the Emir of Gaya, Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, had been appointed as the state Amirul Hajj for the 2026 pilgrimage, while the Emir of Karaye, Muhammad Muhammad Maharaz, would serve as his deputy.
Earlier, the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abubakar Matawalle, commended the state government for its support toward ensuring a smooth and hitch-free Hajj operation.
He revealed that all 560 pilgrims on the inaugural flight had been provided with basic hygiene items, including soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, to ease their arrival in the Holy Land.
The governor was accompanied during the farewell visit by his deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Amirul Hajj, and other senior government officials.
