The Kwara State Government has launched this year's 2025 Hajj exercise with the departure of the first batch of 560 intending pilgrims and two Nigerian Hajj Commission (NAHCON) officials to Saudi Arabia today.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq addressed the pilgrims before their flight, urging them to uphold dignity and represent Kwara and Nigeria honourably during their pilgrimage. Represented by his Special Adviser and Councillor, Alhaji Saadu Salaudeen, the governor reminded the 2,174 intending pilgrims from the state to pray for peaceful coexistence in Nigeria and Kwara.

He also cautioned the pilgrims to avoid actions that could tarnish the state's or the nation's reputation, and to maintain harmony with fellow pilgrims.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board, Professor Mashood Mahmood Jimba, and the Amirul-Hajj for this year, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu advised all the intending pilgrims to uphold good conduct throughout the pilgrimage.

In his farewell message, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam said a total of two thousand, one hundred and seventy-four pilgrims will be airlifted in four separate flights as part of this year's pilgrimage operations.

Pilgrims departed the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a Max Airline, which took off at twenty minutes to one this afternoon, en route the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.