By Abubakar Mohammad, Zaria
Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the registration of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for 2019 in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
Imam Hussaini Suleiman Tsoho Ikara, the state Overseer of the board, announced the commencement in Giwa local government area, Kaduna state while launching the exercise.
He explained that all intending pilgrims for next year’s Hajj must present themselves to the authorized officers in physically, stressing that proxy registration will not be condoned.
The Overseer said the sum of N800,000 has been pegged by the board as a minimum deposit while N1.5m is the maximum deposit for each pilgrim wishing to perform next year’s Hajj at Saudi Arabia.
He said all payments must be deposited in a designated bank account approved by the board.
Imam Ikara further informed that all old timers who performed Hajj in the last 4 years must pay the additional sum of 2,000 Saudi Riyals or equivalent in line with the new Saudi Arabian guideline.
He warned that no female intending pilgrim will be registered without a male guide.
“This is also part of Saudia Arabian guideline, that all female pilgrims must be accompanied by a male guide to be allowed to perform pilgrimage in the Holy Land.”
The Overseer said part of the rules for the registration includes presenting a guarantor who will shortee a pilgrim to avoid absconding while in the Holy Land.
“The guarantor must either be an Imam of a Jumaat mosque, A District Head or A civil servant not below Grade level 12.”
He cautioned those intending to deposit their payment for themselves or their relatives to contact only authorized officers of the board to guard against falling into the traps of fraudsters.
“Fraudsters would now commence their nefarious activities of defrauding pilgrims of their hard earned monies, I, therefore, warned you not to pay any money to anybody unless in the designated banks approved by the board.
” I urged you to liaise only with the board’s officials in your respective local government offices who will register you accordingly and guide you appropriately to avoid any regret ”
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON had allocated a total of 6,636 Hajj seats to Kaduna State for 2019 pilgrimage. END
