Governor Ganduje of Kano State

The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it has secured visas for 3,200 out of the 6, 607 state’s intending pilgrims expected to perform the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Kano on Wednesday.

Badamasi said the board had submitted another batch of 1, 500 passports for the intending pilgrims to the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Kano for issuance of visa.

“The board has forwarded another 1, 500 passports to the Saudi Consulate to process the visa.

“We want to secure the visa for all our intending pilgrims before the commencement of the airlift which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 8.,” he said.

He also disclosed that Azman and Max Airlines were expected to transport the state’s intending pilgrims to the Holy land for the exercise.

Badamasi said based on the arrangement, Azman Airline would commence the airlift on Aug. 11, while Max Air would start the airlift of his allocated pilgrims on Aug. 13.

He said the transportation of the pilgrims was expected to be completed on Aug. 21.

“If things go as expected, the transportation of our pilgrims will be concluded on Aug. 21,” he said.

The public relations officer added that the board had made adequate preparations at home and in the Holy land, to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims as well as the success of the entire Hajj operation.

The spokesman called on the intending pilgrims to give the board the necessary support and cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise.

He said that the two airlines had pledged that they would do their best to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free.

(NAN)