Hajj: Kaduna Amirul Hajj laments Kabo Air’s ‘nonchalance’

Kaduna state Amirul Hajj for the 2013 Hajj operations, Alhaji Muhammadu Isah Muhammadu, yesterday lamented the nonchalant attitude of Kabo Air and its failure to adhere to flight schedules as the state’s carrier during the 2013 Hajj operations.

Muhammadu, who is also the Emir of Jama’a, urged that only airlines that could dedicate one exclusive aircraft to the state pilgrims during the airlifting operation should be selected as its air carriers for the 2014 Hajj operations.

Speaking during the presentation of the 2013 Hajj operation report to Governor Mukhtar Yero, the Amirul Hajj said Kaduna state registered 5, 657 pilgrims and officials but only 5,634 pilgrims and officials made the trip as 23 pilgrims failed to go due to health problems and failed pregnancy test.
He said the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia ran between September 21 and October 3, 2013, and the return journey took place between October 29 and November 13, 2013.

He said: “There were few challenges during the 2013 Hajj operation. The continued occupation of the Hajj transit camp, Mando by the internally displaced persons forced us to use trade fair complex as temporary Hajj camp with its attendant high cost and inconveniences. The airlift to and fro was conducted by the three air carriers with little hitch, but the activities of Kabo Air had almost brought problems to the operation.
“There was delay in the release of the list of state and local government sponsored pilgrims and problems associated with the feeding and accommodation arrangement in Muna.”
The Amirul Hajj, who called for early commencement of Hajj Saving Scheme and Sale of Hajj Seats, commended the coded system of accommodation in Makkah, adding that 90 per cent of the state’s pilgrims visited Madina before Arafat.
Responding, Yero commended the Amirul Hajj Team, the executive secretary of the board and the management for a successful 2013 Hajj operations, saying that the appointment of officials should be strictly on merit.

Yero called for a three-year Hajj saving scheme to help low income earning intending pilgrims, and warned the pilgrim officers to desist from collecting monies from intending pilgrims without offering them Hajj seats.