Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Pays N12m For Intending Pilgrims’ Rams

The Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said that it had deposited N12 million with Jaiz Bank in Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Alhaji Aliyu Suleiman, the Executive Secretary of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Bauchi, capital of Bauchi State.

Suleiman said that the amount was paid by some intending pilgrims from the state for the rams they would slaughter during the forthcoming 2015 Hajj.

He said that the Islamic Development Bank had approved Jaiz Bank as the bank to receive the deposit to discourage intending pilgrims from carrying liquid cash for their rams to the Holy Land.

Suleiman said that under this arrangement, the pilgrims would withdraw the money while in Saudi Arabia to buy their rams and slaughter them in line with the Islamic rite.

Suleiman urged each intending pilgrim who was willing to be part of the new development to deposit N26,000 with the bank for each ram.

He also said that the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) had approved Max Air and Top Brass as shuttle airliners that would transport 2,828 pilgrims and 14 officials from the state to the Holy Land.

Suleiman said that the board had provided facilities such as accommodation, catering services and others that the intending pilgrims would need in both Madina and Makkah during the pilgrimage.

He said that the intending pilgrims would be served two meals daily while in Madina and Makkah during the operation.

Suleiman warned them against missing their flights, stating that “once a pilgrim has missed his or her flight, such has also missed the pilgrimage as there will be no alternative flight.

“There will be no refund for pilgrims that miss their scheduled flights as all transactions will be done on-line. It will not be easy to retrieve money after it has been remitted.

“The exercise will commence on Aug. 23 in Kaduna while Bauchi State and others will cue in,” he said.

The secretary urged the intending pilgrims to cooperate with the state officials so as to have a hitch-free exercise.