2023 hajj: Jigawa pilgrims board remits N4bn to NAHCON

NNAHCON

The Jigawa state  Pilgrims Board  Thursday  said  it remitted  the sum of over N4 billion  to the National  Hajj Commission  of Nigeria (NAHCON)  being payment  for 1, 6 25 intending pilgrims from the state  for this year’s hajj rites.

The executive secretary of the board, Alhaji Ahmad Umar Labbo,  in an interview in his in office in Dutse, stated that   the  federal government  has allocated a total of 1,625 hajj seats to  Jigawa state  for the 2023 hajj operation.

He said the first batch of the intending pilgrims from the state are expected to begin  flight to the Holly land on Sunday May 27 , 2023 according to the schedule  but subject to change,  adding that Azman Air  is the air carrier that will airlift the Jigawa state contingent.

He stated further that  passports of intending pilgrims were  in the portal of the Nigeria Immigration Service,  adding  that printing of the passports has begun in earnest.

He said the pilgrims of the first flight will soon commence receiving vaccination,  adding that hand luggage had been distributed to the intending pilgrims.

He said the board has engaged relevant stakeholders such as  Immigration, NDLEA,  Customs, Police  and health workers  as well as Islamic clerics to enlighten  and sensitise  the pilgrims about the dangers of carrying narcotics or anything prohibited by the Saudi authorities.

He said seminars and workshops have been conducted for the intending pilgrims where they were shown the practical aspect of the hajj exercise.

He urged pilgrims to memorise what they were taught during the seminars, adding that their local governments were to remind them on what they have learnt so that when they go to Holly Land, they have  clean and acceptable hajj rites.

With regards to accommodation at both Mecca and Medina, decent places close to the Holy Mosques were secured,  adding that they are free to contact clerics on what they did not know for  more explanation.

The executive secretary warned the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of   Jigawa state and Nigeria as a whole.  He urged them  to desist from committing any act capable of  putting them  in  jeopardy   and  repealing the benefits of the pilgrimage.