Buhari

Femi Adi/Kaduna

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the Federal Government under his administration would not use state funds to send Muslims on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The President who stated this at the Kaduna International Airport on Sunday while flagging-off the air lifting of first batch of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, said has set up a Coordinating Committee to supervise this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Buhari who was represented by Kaduna Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, said the coordinating committee woud be funded by the service charge which pilgrims paid to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

He however charged Nigerian Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2015 Hajj exercise to pray for peace and progress of the country while in the Holy Land

Meanwhile, he disclosed that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammadu Sanusi 11 will head the committee with the Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya as well as Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmed serving as members.

While making reference to the position of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs that Hajj will add value to the nation’s economy if it is properly organised, Buhari said that the federal government is committed to the success of the Hajj exercise even when it will not be involved in the process.

He however tasked the pilgrims to pray for the country, stressing that Nigeria needs all the prayers that it can get, given the challenges that it is facing.

Earlier in his speech , the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muktar Muhammad, gave assurance that the commission will continue to a organise a hitch-free Hajj operation .

The chairman who revealed that six airlines would be deployed to convey 66,000 pilgrims to the Holy Land, using 13 aircraft, said that the airlift of pilgrims would be completed before the closure of Jedda airport on 17 September.

Muhammad also revealed that NAHCON has closed its Jedda office as all officials will move to Makka and Madina in order to facilitate a smooth Hajj.

He equally said that there will be no VIP tents during this year’s pilgrimage as all NAHCON officials will stay with the pilgrims in order to understand their problems and address them promptly.