By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (BMPWB) has commenced high-level state-wide sensitization engagements and public enlightenment programmes for 2024 Hajj policies.
This is contained in a statement issued by Muhammad Sani Yunusa, Information officer of the Board made available to Journalists on Monday in Bauchi.
He said the board constituted advocacy groups that targeted traditional rulers, religious leaders, Civil society Organisations and Local Media Houses to mobilize the intending pilgrims on the need for them to come for registration and pay their Hajj deposit at a stipulated time.
According to him, the Special Adviser on Pilgrims Affairs Hon. 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 the highest and quality Welfare services to state pilgrims.
He said the delegates at the Emir of Jama’are Palace Wadaji unveiled that HAJJ 2024 was welcomed with a lot of challenges, and came up with new policies against the old tradition of managing Hajj exercise.
“Saudi announced the closing of all Hajj activities 50 days before Arafat day, including the 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 said Wadaji warned intending pilgrims not to take things for granted and advised them to haste in making a timely payment of their Hajj Deposit to allow early preparations by Saudi Arabia and the NAHCON.
The information officer said 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.
Meanwhile The Chairman of the Board Alh. Nuru Adamu Jumba who led the team that covered Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro urged community leaders in the areas to deepen robust sensitization of pilgrims on this development at the grassroots.
The palace of the Emir of Dass, Alh. Usman Bilyaminu Othman and other places visited during the exercise.
” Jumba re-stressed that the visit was a deliberate effort by the Board to associate and partner with key stakeholders to create awareness on the 2024 Hajj exercise, calling for all hands to be on deck.
On his part the Executive Secretary Bof Auchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board İmam Abdurrahman İbrahim İdris while leading the team that covered Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs echoed a concern and challenges attached to 2the 024 Hajj preparation,
The hike in 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 the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has advised pilgrims to save N4.5M as Ha and deposit for the upcoming Hajj exercise, saying Bauchi state fixed N3M as an initial deposit to encourage intending pilgrims.
Imam Abdurrahman therefore advised intending pilgrims to installmentally pay their deposits to meet the quoted 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 results.