Press Release
The Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has embarked on high level state-wide sensitization engagements and public enlightenment programmes to create awareness on 2024 Hajj policies.
The constituted advocacy groups targeted traditional rulers, religious leaders, Civil society Organisations and Local Media Houses to mobilized the intending pilgrims on the need for them to come for registration and pay thier Hajj deposit at a stimulated time.
The Special Adviser on pilgrims Affairs *mHon. Shehu Wadaji led the team that covered Jamaare, Itas Gadau, Shira and Giade, reaffirmed in his several remarks the commitment of this administration to provide highest and quality Welfare services to state pilgrims.
At the Emir of Jamaare palace, Hon. Shehu Wadaji said that HAJJJ 2024 comes with alot of challengies, new policies as against Old tradition of managing Hajj excercise.
According to him, Saudi announced closing of all Hajj activities 50 days prior to Arafat day, including issuance of Visas to pilgrims, adding that due to current reality, the cost of hajj deposit was projected higher than that of 2023 Hajj.
He warmed intending pilgrims not to take things for guaranted, advised them to haste in making a timely payment of thier Hajj Deposit to allow early preparations by Saudi Arabia and the NAHCON.
Hon Shehu Wadaji emphasized that all payments are made through Bank tellers which would be only assisted by the Hajj Affairs Officers at the Local Government levels.
The Chairman of the Board *Alh. Nuru Adamu Jumba* who led the team that covered Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro urged community leaders at the areas to deepen robust sensitization of pilgrims on this development at the grassroots.
He made the remark at the palace of His Royal Highness the Emir of Dass, Alh. Usman Bilyaminu Othman and other places visited during the excercise.
Alh. Nuru Adamu Jumba re-stressed that the visit was a deliberate effort by the Board to associate and partner with key stakeholders to create awareness on 2024 Hajj excercise, called for all hands to be on deck.
On his part the Executive Secretary Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board *Imam Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris* while leading the team that covered Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs echoed a concerned and challenges attached to 2024 Hajj preparation, saying the hike in the foreign exchange and the time constraint to complete Hajj preparation are part of the challenges, adding that Saudi Arabia took this position to resolve part of the problems encountered at the 2023 Hajj operation.
He reminded that National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has advised pilgrims to save N4.5M as Hajj deposit for the upcoming Hajj excercise, said Bauchi state fixed N3M as initial deposit to encourage intending pilgrims.
Imam Abdurrahman therefore advised intending pilgrims to installmentally pay their deposits to meet the qoated N4.5M Hajj deposit by NAHCON before the end of December, 2023.
The various teams also paid advocacy visits to HRH the Emir of Ningi Alhaji Yunusa Muhammadu Danyaya, the Emir of Misau HRH Alh Ahmad Sulaiman, the Emir of Katagum HRH Dr Umar Faruq II ,the Emir of Dass, HRH Usman Bilyaminu Othman and the Emir of Jamaare HRH Alh Nuhu Ahmad Wabi to achieve the goal.
In their separate remarks the Caretaker Committee Chairman Giade LGA, Alh. Usman Muhammad Sale, Shira LGA Hon.. Babangida ishaq Maliya, Jamaare Hon.. Inuwa Abdullahi and Itas Gadau Hon. Yakubu Saidu expressed readiness to support the Board to ensure optimum result.
Muhammad Sani Yunusa Information officer