2015 Hajj: Kano pilgrims to be airlifted direct to Medina, says Deputy Governor

The Kano State Government has assured its 5, 537 intending pilgrims for the 2015 Hajj that they would be airlifted from Kano direct to Medina, instead of Jeddah.

The state Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of the first leg of sensitisation workshop for the intending pilgrims in Kano on Sunday.

Abubakar said the state government had already finalised arrangements with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on the issue.

‘’This year, all our pilgrims will be airlifted from Nigeria direct to Medina, instead of Jeddah, and this is courtesy of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s struggle,’’ he said.

According to him, the state government has already secured decent accommodation for the intending pilgrims in Mecca and Medina.

He urged the pilgrims to continue to cooperate with the state government to enable the state win the best performing state from the Saudi authorities.

‘’For four years now the state has been receiving the gold medal award for the best performing state from the Saudi authorities and we want to sustain the tempo,’’ he said.

The deputy governor also urged the intending pilgrims to give the new Executive Secretary of the board the necessary support and cooperation to enable him discharge his duties effectively.

Earlier, the new Executive Director of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abba Yakubu, said the board had so far remitted N1.5 billion to NAHCON as 50 per cent of the total Hajj fares.

He urged female intending pilgrims who were yet to attend the ongoing pregnancy test to do or forfeit their seats.

According to him, the test is in line with the directive of NAHCON to all the state Pilgrims Welfare Boards in the country.

‘’The board will commence screening of all the intending pilgrims across the 44 local government areas of the state, soon,’’ he added.
NAN reports that the second leg of the sensitisation workshop will commence after the Ramadan fast. (NAN).