Mr Ozekhome said, “One cannot say he died too young — he surpassed the average Nigerian male lifespan of 61.2 years.’’
The deputy emir asked Allah to accept their deeds and grant them a blessed Hajj.
Mr Saleh urged the first batch of pilgrims to be ready for their return trip and prayed for a smooth return leg operation for all pilgrims.
The political leaders exchanged greetings and prayed alongside the Muslim faithful for peace and religious harmony.
Before departing Abuja, Mr Shettima joined other Muslim faithful to observe Eid-el-Kabir prayers at the national Eid ground.
Aliyu Yakubu, a rice seller in Makurdi, said weeks ahead of the celebration, he was optimistic that he would make sales during the season.
Responding to the survey conducted by journalists, some residents attributed the high cost of ram to a ban by Niger against Nigeria on ram export.
Mr Chinda urged Muslims to practice the lessons of faith, obedience, generosity, sacrifice, empathy and love, which Eid-el-Kabir signifies.
The sultan further encouraged Nigerians to embrace positive change in their attitudes, expressing optimism that the country’s best days lie ahead.
“We must also pray hard for our troops to keep us safe. They are making sacrifices in the challenges that we face from terrorism and banditry today,” said Mr Tinubu.
