By Mustapha Adamu
Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has revealed that it is still discussing with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) on the airline that will transport the state’s pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
Hajj Reporters reports that there was controversy after NAHCON included Kano among states whose pilgrims would be airlifted by Azman Air during the Hajj 2022 operation.
Media reports say the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board had rejected Azman Air as the airline to airlift its pilgrims.
READ ALSO: Hajj Airlift: States rejects Azman Airline
However, the Executive Secretary of the board, Muhammad Abba Dambatta, who addressed the press on Saturday, said the issue of rejection does not arise because the state never requested for the services of Azman Air in the first place.
He said the board had never written to or had working relationship with Azman Air, adding “we have never requested for the company to airlift our pilgrims.”
Dambatta said the board is still discussing with NAHCON on the airline company to airlift the Kano prospective pilgrims.
The ES added that an announcement would be made in the next 24 hours on the airline to be used for transporting the state’s intending pilgrims.
“We are discussing with NAHCON on the airline to airlift Kano State Pilgrims. Anytime from now to tomorrow, we will announce our stand”
“But, we are 100 percent ready for airlift at any moment. We are discussing with NAHCON, including the Head of Aviation, the Commissioner of Operations and NAHCON Chairman. We will soon announce our stand”.
“The bottom line is that we are ready for airlift. Even if our intending pilgrims are called for airlift in two hours time, we are ready for that,” Dambatta assured.
The Executive Secretary however announced that the state’s intending pilgrims would pay the sum of N2, 449, 607.89 out of the N2, 500, 000 they deposited.
He added that all the prospective pilgrims would receive their balance after the N2, 449, 607. 89 is deducted from the N2, 500,000 they deposited through their respective bank accounts.
He stressed that the state pilgrims’ board had completed its preparations and is ready for what he described as “a successful Hajj exercise this year”.
