SAFAR, 29 1429 A.H.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7 2008
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Kano pilgrims board opens deposit scheme
By NASIR A. TAHIR
IN its avowed commitment to ensure successful Hajj operations, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board yesterday opened a Hajj deposit collection scheme.
Making this known at a press briefing held in his office, the Director-General of the Board, Alhaji Sani Lawan Kofar Mata, disclosed that this year’s deposit scheme is different from that of the previous years as intending pilgrims are expected to pay in two instalments.
According to the director-general, the pilgrims board will only receive the sum of N270,000 from any intending pilgrim as first deposit, pointing out that the amount represents payment for Hajj seat only.
He explained that any intending pilgrim who make the deposit is sure of having his/her Hajj seat, adding that what remains for such intending pilgrim is the payment of
Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) and other charges which would be announced only when the federal government announces the 2008 Hajj fares.
Alhaji Kofar Mata reiterated that Kano Pilgrims Board will not accept any deposit below the N270,000, pointing out however, that any intending pilgrim willing to pay any amount more than the N270,000 as first deposit is free to do so.
While stating that any intending pilgrim willing to make the deposit should do so directly to the Board through certified cheque, he disclosed that 40 per cent of the state’s allocation of Hajj seats has been set aside for the Hajj deposit scheme while the remaining 60 per cent would be released after the announcement of the total Hajj package for the year by the federal government.
Similarly, the director-general explained that each of the 44 local government councils of the state has been allocated 40 seats for the purpose of the scheme, reminding intending pilgrims from the state that the new initiative was formulated out of the board management’s desire to improve their well-being and Hajj operation.
In his remark at the press briefing which was witnessed by the entire board’s management, staff and board members, the chairman of the pilgrims board, Sheikh Abubakar Ramadan, urged intending pilgrims from the state to see wisdom in the new approach which was formulated with a view to removing obstacles to successful Hajj exercise.
Sheikh Ramadan who commended the board management for their commitment to the noble assignment, also called on 2008 intending pilgrims to make good their intention in a bid to perform a perfect Hajj, while praying Allah (SWT) to continue to guide the board in the discharge of its assignment.
