By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state has approved the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Abubukar Maje, the Emir of Hadejia, as the State Amirul Hajj and leader of the Government delegation for the 2024 Hajj Exercise.
Similarly, the governor has also approved the appointments of Alhaji Turaki Ibrahim, Alhaji Nasidi Ali, Alhaji Habibu Uba Ringim and Dr. Abubukar Sani Birnin Kudu as members of the Amirul Hajj Team.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Malam Bala Ibrahim.
The statement said the appointments of the Amirul Hajj and Members of his team was based on their individual track records of hard work, commitment, patriotism, trustworthiness, and fear of Almighty Allah.
According to the statement, the Amirul Hajj Team is expected to work hand in hand with the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board and other relevant agencies at the State, Federal and International levels to provide sincere, effective Hajj operations .
The SSG called on them to demonstrate these qualities in the discharge of this onerous task to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Government and the entire people of Jigawa State.
All the appointments take immediate effects.
Meanwhile, the State Pilgrim Welfare Board (JPWB) says it has completed all plans and taken the necessary measures as intending pilgrims pilgrims from the state await their airlift to Saud Arabia for the commencement of the year 2024 Hajj exercise.
The Director General of the Board, Alhaji Umar Labbo, disclosed this in his office while fielding questions from members of Jigawa State Correspondents’ Chapel.
Labbo explained that for now, the state has a number of about 1, 292 intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
While elaborating more on the increase in Hajj fees announced by Nigeria’s Government through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in the past few days, the Director General said,
“All intending pilgrims of Jigawa State have been relieved as a result of the financial support given by the State Government under the kind gesture of Governor Umar Namadi.
Labbo added that, as a result of the financial intervention by the state government before the deadline for the payment of this year’s Hajj fees, “The pilgrims of Jigawa State have gotten a reduction of at least N2.6 million when compared to other intending pilgrims across the country.”
According to him, so far, Jigawa State has a number of about 1292 intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj including the officials.
More so, the DG said, the board is currently organizing a seminar to fully equip all intending pilgrims with the needed knowledge of the exercise and set to commenced vaccination to safeguard the health of the intending pilgrims.
He, however, said that, the Board had also provided traveling luggages, hand bags, set of uniforms for both the male and female intending pilgrims from the state.
“All that is left now is to start securing visas which is part of the necessary requirements to allow the intending pilgrims to perform this year’s exercise in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Labbo explained that, he led other officials of the Board to series of tours and visitations to all relevant facilities that are involved in the success of the exercise such as the Airport to ensure that there is no problem that will hinder the smooth running of the exercise, assuring that, everything was going according to plan.
The DG also assured the intending pilgrims that, once the dollar exchange rate is lowered before the commencement and completion of this year’s Hajj, exercise, the rest of the money paid by the pilgrims would be returned to them (Pilgrims) as directed by NAHCON.
It’s reported that, Jigawa state intending pilgrims will this year be airlifted by Max Air Plane.
