Adamawa govt to airlift 2,600 intending Pilgrims to Mecca

A total of Two thousand, Six hundred (2,600) intending pilgrims have been screened and enlisted to perform this year’s annual hajj exercise in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Adamawa state Executive Secretary of the Muslim pilgrims welfare Board, Engineer Umar Abubakar Bobboi disclosed the development in Yola Tuesday while addressing journalists on the level of preparedness of his board to the operations saying that all arrangements have been concluded for the exercise.

Engineer Bobboi announced that all things been equal the airlifting of the intending pilgrims from the state to Madina in Saudi Arabia will commence on Tuesday 8th August 2017 noting that the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has communicated the state its schedules of movement.

He stated that the intending pilgrims will be airlifted with a Saudi’s based airliner named ‘Flighner airline’ adding that intending pilgrims across the state will be invited to the official hajj camp twelve hours to their lifting. He maintained that so far the board has sent 1,600 travelling documents (passports) to Saudi Consulate office in Kano for the processing of Visas stating that National Hajj commission has already sent its approval to the board through online outlet.

Commenting on the banned items not to be taken to the holy land during the exercise, he advised intending pilgrims to desist from breaching the laws of Saudi Arabia as it has negative implications to the state and country at large.

“Ours as a board in the state is to educate and enlighten the intending pilgrims on the do and don’ts which we are doing.

“Security team attached to us have adopted enough strategies to track down defaulters because any pilgrim caught violating the laid down rules in Saudi Arabia then such acts negate the country’s image.

“So I am calling on our esteemed intending pilgrims to adhered strictly to the guidelines, rules and regulations for the exercise with a view to have a hitch free exercise”.Bobboi appealed.

Engineer Bobboi while answering a question on the exhaubitant fair this year attributed it to the strength of our currency which he explained that the naira needs to appreciate more for it to compete with the value of US dollars in the financial market globally.