The Jigawa state House of Assembly Committee on Hajj has expressed satisfaction for the State Pilgrims Welfare Board over its preparations for the forthcoming 2025 hajj exercise.
The chairman of the committee, Abdu Ilu Maku, stated this during a working visit of the committee Wednesday at the headquarters of the board in Dutse.
The board has set 18th and 20th May for the airlifting of its intended pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
He said the committee had been briefed on the preparations for the hajj exercise by the director general, Umar Ahmed Labbo, ahead of the pilgrims airlift from the Dutse International Airport to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 hajj.
Maku commended the Board for refunding the over N3 billion loan it received from the state government as a loan.
He said the amount was loaned to the board to facilitate the timely payment of hajj seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
“The committee is satisfied with the preparation especially with all the intending pilgrims from the state getting their visa processed without facing any difficulty and their accommodation fully booked.
“We found that the intended pilgrims were adequately guided about the tenets of hajj exercise by the Pilgrims Board to prepare them for the sacred journey.
“With this, we commend the leadership of the pilgrims’ Welfare Board for the excellent service. We pray that the success achieved in the preparation stages will resonate in the conduct of the exercise in the Holy Land.”
On the payment of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) Maku said the committees have also received with happiness that BTA is now ready for disbursement, with any intending pilgrims willing to convert from dollar to Saudi Riyal can do so at home.