The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board has cleared the air on accommodation arrangements for its pilgrims, saying accommodation was secured after due diligence for their safety for hitch-free Hajj operation in Saudi Arabia.
The board, in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Jibrin Usman Kodo, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Aliyu, in Minna, said it is committed to the welfare of its pilgrims.
Kodo noted accommodation arrangements in Makkah for the State Pilgrims is far better than the ones provided by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Madina for the pilgrims in terms of Standards and Structure.
The statement stated, ” This clarification has become necessary in view of the recent deliberate media lampoon of the Niger State Government accommodation arrangements, alluding to the claim that it is located in an isolated area, far away from the holy mosque, and has denied quite a number of the pilgrims the opportunity to observe their obligatory prayers at the Haram.”
“It was on this premise, that the state government paid for the Hadayah (animal sacrifice) of all the pilgrims from the state and, in recent years, l gave all the pilgrims SR200 each as Sallah gifts, thereby improving the welfare and bringing succour to the pilgrims as this year’s Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) given by NAHCON was inadequate.”.
The PRO argued that Niger State accommodation, even though a bit far from Haram, was not the only one in the area, as there are other states scattered in different locations not close to Haram that were inspected, negotiated and certified by NAHCON without making buses available for their pilgrims.
” The State Pilgrims Welfare Board, provided seven buses that would be shuttling all pilgrims to the Haram to and fro 24 hours every day to observe their five daily prayers, ” the statement insisted.
The Pilgrims Welfare Board also reiterated its support for the pronouncement of the State Governor, Umaru Muhammad Bago for a review of the activities of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for a hassle-free Hajj operation in the country.
It noted that NAHCON should allow states to handle all Hajj activities, including feeding and accommodation in Madina, feeding and tents in Muna, and providing medical facilities during the entire Hajj operation, among others.
However, the board disassociated itself from the position of dissenting views, emphasising that NAHCON should be a regulatory agency, not operator.