Lagos — Speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the country's contingent (Amirul Hajj) to this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia , Oladimeji Bankole has challenged pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the country while performing the religious exercise.

He also charged them to be disciplined, observe health and sanitary rules and as well spend their allowances wisely as the federal government was doing everything possible to ensure a successful exercise.

The Amirul Hajj explained that the choice of Gombe International Airport for the flag-off of this year's airlifting is to acknowledge the complementary role of the airport and the determination of the state government in ensuring its timely readiness and quality.

He said the federal government prepared for an absolutely casualty free hajj by ensuring that all airlines contracted for the exercise were ready in all ramifications, calling on all Nigerians to work as a team in actualisng the federal government goals all round.

Corroborating the Speaker's reason for Gombe International Airport was the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar who expressed his conviction about the quality of the airport, having warned that Hajj airlifting centres should not be determined on sentiment.

Over 95,000 Muslim pilgrims according to the Chairman of National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM), Alhaji Mohammed Bello would in the next 22 days take-off from 11 centres across the country in about 200 flight operations.

On managing the NAHCOM effectively, its chairman said, it would be inconsequential if all stakeholders are not committed to the calling.

He therefore appealed to the governors and leaders in the religious faith to ensure that hajj management is taken more seriously even as he emphasized on the high cost of the pilgrimage exercise and the need to be adequately prepared for it.

State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma Goje said inspiration to embark on the airport construction came from the Emir of Gombe who during one of his sallah homage to Government House wished he could fly out to and fro the hajj from Gombe.

He described the project as one of the instances to the benefit of the entire state and credit of his leadership that his administration had actualized inspirations drawn from the Emir's fatherly advice, support and cooperation.

While acknowledging the useful advice and contributions of all relevant authorities to the success of the airport, the Governor said negotiations for the commencement of commercial flight operation before the end of the year had reached advanced stages.