The Niger State 2024 Amirul Hajj and Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Ahmed Attahiru Garba Gunna II, has reiterated the commitment of the State Government towards ensuring a hitch free 2024 Hajj Exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Amirul Hajj stated this during a one-day annual conference on pre-Hajj enlightenment organized by the State Pilgrims Welfare Board in Minna.
The Emir of Kagara, noted that the cooperation of all the stakeholders is needed to achieve success in the Hajj Exercise, adding that all hands must be on deck to achieve the desired goals.
He called on the Area Pilgrim Welfare Officers (APWO’s) from the 25 LGA’s to be more proactive in the discharge of their duties as laxity would not be condone under his watch.
According to the Amirul Hajj, very soon he will be meeting with security agencies in the state to discuss better ways of attaining a peaceful and successful Hajj Exercise.
He commended the Governor of the State, Farmer Muhammad Umar Bago for his tremendous support by making sure that Pilgrims will be airlifted in Minna and for the payment of Hadayah to all the Pilgrims in the State which he said was responsible for the successes recorded so far.
In his Welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Aliyu, represented by the Chairman of the Board, Sheikh Abubakar Rabiu Beji, stated that the aim of the conference was to educate Area Pilgrim Welfare Officers, Ulamas, and other critical stakeholders on the new laws of Saudi Arabia, so that they pass what was learnt to intending pilgrims in their various LGA’s.
The Chairman of the Board, Sheikh Abubakar Rabiu Beji, who narrated that the message of the Executive Secretary called on the intending pilgrims while in the holy land, to pray for the success of Governor, Farmer Muhammad Umar Bago’s New Niger Agenda and for peace in Niger State and Nigeria as whole.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Bureau for Religious Affairs, Dr. Umar Faruk Abdullahi, appealed to the Niger State Amirul Hajj to talk to the Security agencies in charge of screening of the pilgrims at airport to be lenient to them and not to be subjected to any form hardship during the screening exercise.
The Director of Operations of the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Attahiru Duku, added that visas for all three thousand two hundred and twenty-three intending pilgrims from the state have been received, and plans have reached an advanced stage for the commencement of their departure soon.
