1,546 hajj seats still vacant in Niger – Official

Less than two weeks to the commencement of airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, 1546 seats are yet to be paid for in Niger state.
Chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Shehu Barwa Beji, stated this in Minna yesterday.
According to him, over 2,000 intending pilgrims have so far paid for 3,546 seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NACON) for 2018 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Beji spoke at a 2 day train the trainers’ conference for APWOS and Ulamas (trainers) with the theme: “Crystallize the Essence of Having Haji Mabrur.” Beji said there was one biometric centre in Minna the state capital out of the ten centres in Niger adding that the Potter for the registration and payment for the intending Pilgrims may soon be closed.
He urged the interested intending pilgrims to take advantage of this period to effect their payments of N1, 465,500 with a subsidy of N16, 550 for each of the Pilgrims by the Niger state government for their bag components.
He said that the board has secured good accommodation for Niger Pilgrims already adding that it has also effected payment to NACON for this year pilgrimage He urged intending pilgrims to pay into the board bank account and received receipt from the board as it has stopped recieving cash deposit from intending Pilgrims.
Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who was represented by his Director General on Religious Affairs, Malam Tanko Baba Ahmed, expressed satisfaction with the effort to train the pilgrims.
He said this would acquaint the pilgrims with the required knowledge to perform during the hajj, urging the intending pilgrims to abide by the laws and regulations of the holy land and Nigeria to be good ambassadors of the country to enhance the successful operations during this year’s hajj.
Representative of NACON and Head of Civic Orientation, Umar Bala, said Nigeria would commence its airlifting from 21st July and advised intending pilgrims to conduct themselves in good manner and be law abiding.