Azman, Max Air and Medview airlines are to airlift Kaduna State intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

Salisu Shuaibu, Coordinator, Zone 1 of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB) on Sunday announced this to Igabi Local Government intending pilgrims at the Hajj enlightenment centre in Rigachikum, Kaduna.

He tasked intending pilgrims to ensure strict compliance to laid-down schedule of airlift in accordance with a timetable that would soon be released.

Max Air, Medview and Saudi Arabian-based airline, FlyNas, the Saudi Arabia designated airline, had airlifted Kaduna State pilgrims during the 2016 Hajj exercise.

An official said about 436 out of a total of 483 registered intending pilgrims from Igabi LGA centre had completed payment for the Hajj exercise.

He also disclosed that five accommodation centres had been secured for the state intending pilgrims within a cluster in Makkah.

The Pilgrims Welfare Board had registered 6,335 intending pilgrims for the 2017 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had directed state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to extend the deadline for the payment of 2017 Hajj fare by one week.

Sani Dalhatu Musa, Coordinator, Zone 2 of the KSPWB, advised intending pilgrims to prepare for screening and other last minute preparations.

“Pilgrims should take the screening exercise very seriously because it is one of the criteria for a successful Hajj exercise in the Holly land. Questions will be asked from the knowledge of Hajj acquired in over 17 weeks of enlightenment on Hajj,” he said.

While expressing concern over poor response to payment for ram for Hadaya, the sacrificial animal in Makkah, he called on the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the payment arrangement as approved by NAHCON in order to avoid paying higher and falling victim of scammers.

Every pilgrim embarking on the 2017 Hajj from Nigeria will pay N38,000 for Hadaya.

State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Commissions and agencies are to collect the sums and remit to the designated accounts of Jaiz Bank Plc, which is the appointed bank for the collection of Hadaya.

This is part of the reforms being undertaken by NAHCON for a hitch-free hajj this year.

To this end, the commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the bank to ensure that all intending pilgrims achieve perfect Hajj by entrusting the important rite to a trustworthy agent.

In the past, pilgrims paid for the sacrifice to either the state boards and agencies or third party agents.

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