Executive Chairman of the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, Barrister Ibrahim Al-Arab, who was fielding questions from journalists in his office in Damaturu said: “by the date and guideline of schedule, our pilgrims are supposed to start to take off on August 12, 2016, but we have some snags such as non-availability of BTA.
“We are also yet to receive the air carrier, which is FlyNas, for us to know what they have on ground. We are still waiting for them to arrive Damaturu and brief us of their state of preparedness.
“Thirdly, we are still compiling the list of the first flight. Notwithstanding, the office has been working assiduously to ensure that everything is properly put in place.
“But I want assure you that the situation is not bad because everything is on ground for the pilgrims. The money is there at the Central Bank, their uniforms are ready.”
The Chairman, said that the state government could not appoint an Amiral Hajj for the state this year due to the harsh economic realities in the country.
Al-Arab said that the Hajj seats allocated to the state are yet to be purchased by prospective pilgrims.
He said however that the Commission’s preparedness has taken it to almost the point of closing payments for this year’s pilgrimage.
“So far we have recorded over 1,800 pilgrims. The allocation to the state was 2231. We have not been able to exhaust all but we do hope that many will still come.
“As you are aware, there is a screening process going on with medical expert dispatched to screen the sick and the aged who have manifestations of not being healthy enough to perform the exercise so also the pregnant women who by law should not be attending. We recorded 11 women that were disqualified last year due to pregnancy.
“The National Hajj Commission in conjunction with the state commissions of Borno and Yobe are putting in place general repair work at the transit camp and Maiduguri International Airport preparatory to arrival of the pilgrims.” [myad]
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