Kaduna state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has called on the state’s intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj operation to register at its head office and in the 23 local government councils, as the state commenced registration of intending pilgrims yesterday.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the Emir of Zazzau palace in Zaria, the Board’s Overseer, Alhaji Kasim Kabiru, said they were at the palace for the emir to declare the registration open.
He said the board had directed all the 23 pilgrim officers (POs) in the state to begin registration with immediate effect, adding that only intending pilgrims that had not performed Hajj previously would be given consideration.
He said: “Last year’s Hajj exercise was successful and now we have directed all the pilgrim officers to register intending pilgrims in their localities. We are here in the palace to seek for your blessings so that we have a successful exercise.”
He warned the pilgrim officers to ensure transparency during the sales of Hajj seats, adding that only bank draft of N500, 000 would be collected from the intending pilgrims and not cash.
The Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Religious Affairs Islamic Matters, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mahmoud, in his remarks, said the board had a culture of coming every year to inform the emir of the commencement of the registration exercise.
He said the state government had given the go ahead for the registration exercise to commence, while seeking the support of the palace for a hitch-free exercise.
Declaring the exercise open, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, prayed for a successful Hajj registration exercise, while assuring the board management of his support.
