Gusau – Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, the Secretary to Zamfara State Government, said on Saturday in Gusau, that 4,026 pilgrims from the state would perform the 2015 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Shinkafi who is also the secretary to the 22- member committee on hajj in the state, disclosed this to newsmen, shortly after the first meeting of the committee.
He noted that the outcome of the meeting included extension of local governments’ hajj seats from 3,378 to 3,498.
Shinkafi said the decision was arrived at after complaints were received from the local government chairmen.
“The meeting also discussed the arrangements on how the intending pilgrims are to be taken to Saudi Arabia, which will be carried out through eight flights based on local governments.
“Also, Zamfara pilgrims are the first to be airlifted from the country when the exercise commences,” he said.
According to him, the first flight will take off on Aug.18 and the last one is expected on Aug. 29.
He said that the work of the committee was to ensure welfare of the pilgrims and to ensure successful conduct of the hajj.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Gov. Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari, had earlier inaugurated a 22-member committee on the hajj for the state. (NAN)