The Katsina State Government through its Pilgrims Welfare Board, has concluded plans to commence the airlift of intending pilgrims next week in the state.
The Executive Director of the board, Suleiman Kuki, disclosed this in a statement, after a stakeholders meeting held at the board’s headquarters in Katsina on Wednesday.
According to Kuki, the expected date for the commencement of the 2022 Hajj airlift from Katsina State is Thursday, June 16.
The statement added that to achieve hitch-free Hajj, the board has completed the registration exercise, except for the stakeholders’ allocation, and paid the required remittance to NAHCON, to secure the 2,146 Hajj seats allocated to the state.
He added that planning and administration of the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccination exercise, including booster doses for intending pilgrims and officials, have been conducted.
The state pilgrims boss maintained that the board has procured pilgrims’ uniform materials, and suite cases, while it is also planning to transport the materials to the zonal offices, for eventual distribution to all the intending pilgrims in the state.
To ensure a smooth process leading to the airlift, Kuki said the board has commenced the repairs and maintenance of the pilgrim’s transit camp, financed its bankers for the procurement of Basic Travelling Allowances, BTA, and online enrolment of pilgrim’s e-passports at the e-hajj portal, for the processing, and procurement of visa, which has reached an advanced stage.
He added that, on the offshore preparations, the board has participated in the first pre-hajj visit to Saudi Arabia, organized by NAHCON, appointed service providers, the Makkah accommodation agents and caterers, as well as secured pilgrims’ accommodation at Makkah.
Meanwhile, the Board’s Chairman, Yusuf Barmo has appealed to the stakeholders to extend professional advice to the board, and to work as a team, to ensure a smooth exercise.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
