“Why our pilgrims left without BTA”… Gombe Amirul Hajj

The situation which caused a lot of disaffection, grumblings and near open protest among the pilgrims in Saudi-Arabia, as gathered by our Correspondent in Gombe, was however controlled with the intervention of the Amirul Hajj in Gombe who is yet to leave for the Pilgrimage.

Briefing Journalists over the development, Ambassador Garba explained that the delay in payment was as a result of changes made to the airlift schedules by the National Hajj Commission in Abuja.

The Amirul Hajj disclosed that the State had planned to commence airlifting by August 5th but was constrained by the National Hajj Commission to start a week earlier.

He said that the State Pilgrims Welfare Board was left with little time to make provision for the BTAs of those that left in the first four flights adding that they however raised $100 for each of them for the time being. He said also that those who left in the fifth and sixth flights went with the full payments of their BTAs.

He said the Gombe State Pilgrims Welfare Board has however airlifted 1,800 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in six batches adding that the remaining 300 intending pilgrims would be joining the hajj operation today along with the balance of the BTA of those that left earlier.

The Amirul Hajj advised intending pilgrims not to carry banned items in their luggages, adding that the state government would not encourage breakdown of law and order.

“Prospective pilgrims should remember that they are individually and collectively representing Nigeria and Gombe State in particular and should present themselves as worthy ambassadors,” he stressed.