Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board says preparations are in top gear toward the 2022 hajj exercise in the state.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Babura stated this during a press briefing at the board’s headquarters in Dutse.
According to him, so far, the board had submitted the list of over three hundred intending pilgrims who completed their hajj deposit in the state.
Alhaji Mustapha Umar Babura pointed out that, there were five hundred and thirty intending pilgrims that did not collect their hajj deposit between 2020 and 2021 when the hajj did not hold due to Covid 19 pandemic.
He said screening of intending pilgrims was in progress to ascertain the number of pilgrims that could not complete their deposit for the hajj exercise.
According to him, the board has already commenced orientation sessions across the twenty-seven local government areas of the state by some Ulamas to the state intending pilgrims.
Alhaji Mustapha Umar Babura added that, over one thousand one hundred and sixty intending pilgrims paid their deposit between 2020/2021.
He said, out of the number, six hundred and thirty five were refunded to the tune of seven hundred and eighty seven million naira.
The Acting Executive Secretary said 530 prospective pilgrims rolled over their deposit for the hajj exercise.
Babura said the board had set aside next week as the deadline for collection of remaining hajj fare in the state.
He therefore called on the intending pilgrims that paid their hajj deposit to immediately settle the remaining hajj fare.
He said, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON, had allocated 614 seats to the state, adding that the remaining vacant seat were eighty-four.
He said, the board was awaiting approval by the state Governor for some of the officials to travel to Saudi Arabia to secure a befitting accommodation for the state intending pilgrims near Masjid Haram in Mecca.
The Acting Executive Secretary commended the state government for the the support and cooperation given the the board.
COV/USMAN MZ