BY: AISHA AHMED, DUTSE
The Director General, Jigawa state Pilgrims welfare Board, Alhaji Umar Labbo, has said that the board has improved its welfare services package for 2025 Hajj operations.
He stated this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Dutse, after returning from Saudi Arabia, in preparation for the 2025 Hajj operations.
Labbo said, the board, with support from the state Governor Malam Umar Namadi, will provide free lunch for Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
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He revealed that the aim is to add to breakfast and dinner earlier provided during the past years.
“We did our best to make things easy for the Pilgrims by improving their welfare, every year, especially with the current economic situation,” Labbo said.
In addition, the board according to the DG, has secured a descent and comfortable world class accommodation for the Pilgrims very close to the Holy mosque in Saudi Arabia.
“This is to ease transportation cost and hardship faced by our Pilgrims who are accommodated in areas that are hard to reach and require transportation,” the DG explained.
He however, commended the state government for supporting the board with a over N3 billion, to secure hajj seats for intending Pilgrims, to meet the deadline set by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON).
Labbo however, revealed that all plans have been concluded to begin the 2025 Hajj orientation exercise for Pilgrims across the 27 local governments soon.
He tasked the intending Pilgrims to try and quickly settle their balance of payments, so that all plans will be concluded on time.
Furthermore, Labbo commended NAHCON for identifying with Jigawa state government’s commitment to Hajj operations.
He revealed that Jigawa state delegation took part at the powerful meeting in Saudi Arabia, where Hajj operations plans were concluded recently.
It is recalled that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has allocated 1,518 seats to Jigawa state Pilgrims board for 2025 Hajj Operations.
It is also gathered that NAHCON has set a deadline for January 31st 2025, for payments of Hajj seats to be concluded.