The Kebbi State Government has promised to contribute N1m as an intervention to each of the 2024 intending pilgrims.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, disclosed this while addressing a press conference shortly after an emergency State Executive Council meeting chaired by the deputy governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had said pilgrims who registered for the 2024 Hajj before the previous deadline of February 12 will now have to pay a balance of N1.9m following the current exchange rate.
The commissioner stated that out of over 3,000 intending pilgrims from the state, the government promised to support each with N1m, while each of the pilgrims “is expected to complete the remaining balance of over N900,000.”
The commissioner, who expressed satisfaction over the gesture, called on prospective pilgrims to balance the remaining pilgrimage fee to perform Hajj.
Ahmed said, ”Out of about N2m requested by NAHCON as additional fares, Kebbi Government has offset N1m for each pilgrim while the remaining balance should be paid by individual pilgrim to complete payment.
”Pilgrims who completed payment of the fares would also enjoy the N1m magnanimity from the government,”
Ahmed recalled that recently, members of a committee from the Federal Ministry of Aviation visited the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, where they commended the state government for the airport facilities.
He said the committee members were excited with what they met on the ground and assured all that the airport had all that it takes for the airlift of pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Shehu Mu’azu, said the state government had set up a 13-man committee to investigate the recent crisis where some hoodlums attacked some foodstuff warehouses and carted away food items.
He assured the people of the state that none of the state government’s stores was attacked while commending the security agencies in the state for bringing the situation under control.
