From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
As the preparations for 2025 Hajj is afoot, the Kano state Pilgrims Welfare Board has called on its intending pilgrims to quickly submit their international passports for visa processing.
The Director-General of the board, Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u Danbaffa made the call at the launch of this year’s pilgrims induction programme, held at Rano Local Government Secretariat in Kano on Sunday.
He said Saudi Arabia had announced the date for commencement of issuance of visa from next month.
According to him, the timely submission of the passports would enable the board to make preparation on time to avoid visa crisis that could cause some pilgrims miss the Hajj.
Danbaffa therefore urged those who already paid their Hajj fair to rush to submit their international passports to their respective Centre Officers.
The DG said those that have their passports expired or trying to issue new one should do so on time in order to get their visa on time, calling on those that have their passports issuance delayed or face difficulty to rush to the board for assistance.
“Those who paid their deposit should rush to bring their international passports to their centre officers.
“Those that have their passports expired or trying to issue new one should rush and issue new one. Those that find it difficult to get the passport should come to the board as it has link with the passport office to get it quickly,” he stated.
Danbaffa announced that the deadline for payment of Hajj fare and completion of deposit, amounting to about N58,000 remains February 3rd.
About the induction programme, Danbaffa said the board decided to launch it in Rano Local Government because it has the highest number of intending pilgrims that have paid their fares.
He assured the intending pilgrims that they would get value for their money as the board, with the support of the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf had made adequate preparation for seamless Hajj exercise this year.
Chairman, Board of Directors, Alhaji Yusuf Lawan, urged the intending pilgrims to rush and pay and complete their fare before the deadline.
He said Saudi Arabia would not extend the deadline, there by calling on the intending pilgrims that paid their deposit to complete the payment.
He cautioned the intending pilgrims to be law abiding and conscious of Nigerian and Saudi laws during the Hajj exercise
