Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has commended intending pilgrims for withstanding the vigorous preparation for this year’s Hajj exercise.
Governor Sani Bello disclosed this when he visited the last badge of the intending pilgrims at the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja Hajj camp to bid them farewell.
The Governor explained that this year’s Hajj preparations had some global challenges due to some reforms added that the difficulties made Saudi Authority to extend the date.
He however admonished them to consider their experiences as part of the blessings of performing Hajj.
The Governor also explained that the state government did all it could to ensure the intending pilgrims were airlifted from Minna Airport but that could not be achieved, hence the decision to airlift them from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
While wishing the intending pilgrims a successful Hajj exercise, Governor Sani Bello urged them to pray for peace in Niger State in particular and Nigeria in general as well as be good ambassadors of the state.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary (ES), Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Umar Makun Lapai said that 2,265 pilgrims from the state that paid through the certified bank, have been captured and given Visas to perform this year’s Hajj exercise.
Makun Lapai said that over 1,700 have so far been airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while assuring that the remaining 486 and all officials as well as Amir Hajj will joined the last badge to be airlifted.
He said that board was not responsible for anyone that paid through an individual.
