From Gombe, Abu-Ubaidah Ibrahim Kuna
The Gombe State Pilgrims Welfare Board declared its readiness for the 2017 hitch free Hajj operation.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Usman Gurama, said that Gombe State has 2,405 intending pilgrims for 2017 and 90% of the intended pilgrims have completed their payment of the Hajj fare.
Gurama noted that the board has already completed all its preparation to ensure the success of this Year’s Hajj operation.
He told newsmen that the board has secured accommodation in Mecca alongside offices for both pilgrims and officials and said that the Gombe State Government under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has done well to ensure the smooth running of the Board’s activities at Saudi Arabia.
While commenting on this Year’s hajj fare, Gurama said that, the increase was as the result of the increase in dollar. He said that “last year’s Hajj fare was N1, 050, 000 but people didn’t complain and the increase this year happened because the dollar is at N305 which almost double the last year’s dollar price of N195″.
Gurama added that ” Last year we paid 4,200 Saudi Riyad per bed for each and every pilgrim from Gombe State because our accommodation was near ‘Haram’ while this year we would pay 3,750 Saudi Riyad.
The Executive Secretary has congratulated the 16-Member Amirul Hajj Team on their well-deserved appointments and commended Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for his immeasurable efforts and commitments to ensure that this year’s hajj would be successful, among which is the appointments of the 16-Member Amirul Hajj team under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Ambassador Haruna Garba.