Nigerian Newsday

By Umar Anache

The Niger State Government has said it will reduce the number of intending pilgrims from the state during next year Hajj exercise.

The state governor, Engr. Abdullahi Abdulkadir Kure, stated this when he received in audience the executive members of the last Hajj operation, led by the state Amirul Hajj, Malam Yusuf Sulaiman.

Governor Kure explained that the reduction in the number of intending pilgrims was necessary as a result of the failure of the last Hajj operation.

He stressed that last year more than half of the number of intended pilgrims who did not perform the Hajj will be given priority this year.

To this end, he urged the officials to start preparation on time to avoid the mistakes that led to the failure experienced last year.

While promising that the state government would do everything possible to see that all intending pilgrims from the state were airlifted, he instructed the officials to select among themselves those who would travel early to Saudi Arabia to make all necessary arrangements there for the state contingent during the Hajj.

Earlier in his speech, the Amirul Hajj for the 2006 pilgrimage, Malam Yusuf Sulaiman, said the success or failure of any exercise depended on its planning and implementation.

Recalling the failure of last year’s exercise, he advised the Niger State Government to work with other relevant agencies such as the Directorate of Pilgrims Affairs (DPA) to ensure a successful hajj operation.