Get Guardian on Google…Refunds 60 per cent Access fees to intending pilgrims’
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has concluded preliminary arrangements for the 2027 Hajj, assuring intending pilgrims of improved welfare services and a hitch-free experience in the next pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Besides, the board disclosed that refund of access payment made by intending pilgrams has reached advance stage with 60 per cent of affected persons received their money.
Briefing journalists Tuesday, Director General of the the Board, Alh. Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle said the early arrangements demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of pilgrims and addressing challenges encountered during the 2026 Hajj.
The Board said it had completed all preliminary activities and made the necessary payments to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as part of efforts to ensure early preparation for the exercise.
Matawalle disclosed the arrangements which comes much earlier was intended to guarantee Pilgrims’ comfortable accommodation, medical services and other essential welfare packages throughout the pilgrimage.
He assured that challenges and obstructions experienced during the previous Hajj would not be allowed to recur, stressing that lessons had been learnt from the last exercise.
In the new arrangement, Matawalle explained that medical screening would henceforth decentralise across the 44 local government areas of the state to eliminate unnecessary congestion and ensure proper physical examination of intending pilgrims.
The DG regretted that the previous centralised screening arrangement which mostly resulted in medical complications at the holy land would not longer be tolerated.
According to the Board, the decentralised approach would enable medical personnel to physically assess each intending pilgrim and identify possible health challenges before departure at their designated local government areas.
On accommodation, the Board said necessary arrangements were being made for about 3,500 pilgrims at facilities, closer to the Holy Mosque in Makkah. He stressed that pilgrims would not be subjected to unnecessary hardship or long-distance movement in accessing the Haram.
The DG urged intending pilgrims to strictly abide by the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia throughout their stay, warning against any conduct capable of violating the country’s laws or disrupting the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Matawalle equally reminded that pilgrimage is purely spiritual exercise deviod of political activities, calling on intending pilgrams to maintain high moral and religious conduct in the holy land.
