Do not expect any financial support from federal government to fulfil your religious obligations.
These were the indirect words from the presidency concerning this year's Hajj pilgrimage.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that his administration will not fund pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Instead, the Federal Government has set up a coordinating committee to supervise this year’s hajj.
This is even as he charged pilgrims for the 2015 hajj to pray for peace and progress of Nigeria. Buhari stated this at the Kaduna International Airport while flagging-off the inaugural flight to Saudi Arabia.
Reprsented by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the President said the coordinating committee will be funded by the service charge which pilgrims paid to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
According to him, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, will head the committee while the Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya as well as Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, will serve as members.
Buhari also reiterated the position of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs that hajj will add value to the economy if it is properly organized.
The President said the government is committed to the success of the hajj even though it will not get involved in it.
Earlier, the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muktar Muhammad, said the commission is committed to a hitch-free hajj operation this year as it has introduced a lot of new measures.
According to the chairman, six airlines will convey 66,000 pilgrims to the holy land, using 13 aircraft.
He said the airlift of pilgrims will be completed before the closure of Jedda Airport on September 17.
Alhaji Muhammad said NAHCON has closed its Jeddah office as all officials will move to Mecca and Medina to facilitate a hitch-free pilgrimage.
He said there will be no VIP tents during this year’s hajj as all NAHCON officials will stay with the pilgrims in order to know their yearnings and challenges.
The chairman said the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria will be on the basis of ‘’first in, first out’’ which was instituted by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saád Abubakar III and it will end by October 27.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan prayed for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, adding that the pilgrims should also pray for the peace and progress of the country.
The Emir of Kano advised them to be of good conduct because the mere thought of evil while in Saudi Arabia will be recorded against any pilgrim that does that.
The inaugural flight which was flagged off at Kaduna International Airport, conveyed 300 pilgrims from Jemaá and Kajuru Local Government Areas while another flight scheduled for departure on Sunday night was already on ground,
credit: sunnewsonline
These were the indirect words from the presidency concerning this year's Hajj pilgrimage.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that his administration will not fund pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Instead, the Federal Government has set up a coordinating committee to supervise this year’s hajj.
This is even as he charged pilgrims for the 2015 hajj to pray for peace and progress of Nigeria. Buhari stated this at the Kaduna International Airport while flagging-off the inaugural flight to Saudi Arabia.
Reprsented by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the President said the coordinating committee will be funded by the service charge which pilgrims paid to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
According to him, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, will head the committee while the Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya as well as Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, will serve as members.
Buhari also reiterated the position of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs that hajj will add value to the economy if it is properly organized.
The President said the government is committed to the success of the hajj even though it will not get involved in it.
Earlier, the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muktar Muhammad, said the commission is committed to a hitch-free hajj operation this year as it has introduced a lot of new measures.
According to the chairman, six airlines will convey 66,000 pilgrims to the holy land, using 13 aircraft.
He said the airlift of pilgrims will be completed before the closure of Jedda Airport on September 17.
Alhaji Muhammad said NAHCON has closed its Jeddah office as all officials will move to Mecca and Medina to facilitate a hitch-free pilgrimage.
He said there will be no VIP tents during this year’s hajj as all NAHCON officials will stay with the pilgrims in order to know their yearnings and challenges.
The chairman said the airlift of pilgrims back to Nigeria will be on the basis of ‘’first in, first out’’ which was instituted by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saád Abubakar III and it will end by October 27.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan prayed for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, adding that the pilgrims should also pray for the peace and progress of the country.
The Emir of Kano advised them to be of good conduct because the mere thought of evil while in Saudi Arabia will be recorded against any pilgrim that does that.
The inaugural flight which was flagged off at Kaduna International Airport, conveyed 300 pilgrims from Jemaá and Kajuru Local Government Areas while another flight scheduled for departure on Sunday night was already on ground,
credit: sunnewsonline
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