Olaide Oyelude, Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said his administration has been subsidising hajj with N1bn annually.
He said this on Wednesday at the inauguration of an 18-member board for the Katsina State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board.
The governor explained that the subsidy provided was meant to ensure the wellbeing of pilgrims while in the holy land.
Masari said pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia should neither be a picnic nor a holiday but an act of worship, as enshrined in the Qur’an and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.
He admonished the pilgrims to persevere and reflect on the pioneer Muslims who had to perform the hajj in a much more difficult circumstance.
He emphasised that Islamic religion had stipulated that only those with good health and with enough resources were qualified for hajj.
He enjoined Islamic clerics to preach only on hajj in the holy land and avoid sentiments, praying for the success of the newly-inaugurated board.
The new chairman of the board, who is also Bunun Katsina, Salisu Shinkafi, in his acceptance speech, assured the governor that he and his team would not disappoint the government and the people of the state.
He also appealed for cooperation of the intending pilgrims.
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