Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has commended Niger state intending pilgrims for withstanding the vigorous preparation for this year’s Hajj exercise.
The governor 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.
He explained that this year’s Hajj preparations had some global challenges due to some reforms, adding that the difficulties made Saudi Authority to extend the date.
Sani Bello 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, Sani Bello urged them to pray for peace in the 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 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 is not responsible for anyone that paid through an individual.
