Vindicates Daybreak’s exclusive report on agency
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
To ensure the success of the 2024 Hajj operations, the Governor of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, Senator Uba Sani has appointed Malam Salihu S. Abubakar as Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, vindicating Daybreak Nigeria newspapers earlier report on poor 2023 hajj exercise.
This is contained in a statement signed by his media officer, Muhammad Lawal Shehu made available to newsmen on Sunday.
Recalled that the Amirul Hajj 2O23 and Emir of Zazzau Dr Nuhu Bamali had rated the 2023 hajj exercise as a total failure in an interview he granted VOA over the exercise.
The statement partly reads:
“To ensure the success of the 2024 Hajj operations, the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani has appointed Malam Salihu S. Abubakar as Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency with all the powers vested in the Executive Secretary of the Agency.
“The Secretary of the Special Committee on 2024 Hajj will serve as the Administrative Secretary of the Agency. The rest of the committee members will perform the functions of Board Members of the Agency.
“The Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Dr. Arrigasiyyu has been redeployed to Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) as Managing Director.”, it stated.
Recall that Daybreak Nigeria had on September 24, carried an exclusive report on the poor state of the hajj camp in Kaduna, follow attached link to read full report
Kaduna Hajj camp, a national shame, men, women sleep together in overcrowded hall – investigation
The Emir of Zazzau had also expressed disappointment with the preparation and conduct of the 2023 hajj operations in Kaduna, follow link for story.
For doing his professional job and holding leaders accountable to the people in line with constitutional provision our reporter suffered untold persecution and intimidation in the hands of the boss of the pilgrims board. He was arrested, humiliated, detained and arraigned over trumped up charges. In a case that has drawn the attention of civil societies groups both within and outside the country, including the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, CPJ.
How Kaduna investigative journalist was arrested, detained by Police
