Kebbi State government has inaugurated an 18-member committee to prepare the ground for the inaugural flight of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj to Saudi Arabia from Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State.
The government said the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has designated the state‘s airport for the commencement of the airlift of the first flight to Saudi Arabia on May 15, 2024.
While inaugurating the committee at Nasir Idris Hajji Camp in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State on behalf of the governor, Nasir Idris, the chairman of the committee, who is also the secretary to the state government (SSG), Yakubu Bala-Tafida, thanked Governor Idris for giving him the opportunity to inaugurate the committee in order to serve the state.
Represented by a member of the committee, representing Danko-Wasagu East in the state House of Assembly, Muhammad Garba-Bena, he tasked the committee to be steadfast in ensuring the success of the inaugural flight.
„Since the federal government has made Kebbi State a big platform for the hajj exercise this year, there is need to join hands to work in earnest to justify the confidence reposed on us by the federal authorities,“ Bala-Tafida said.
The SSG also charged the handlers of protocol matters to be prepared to receive guests from across the country, saying there is the possibility that President Bola Tinubu or Vice President Kashim Shettima or their representatives including NAHCON officials will be in the state to witness the departure of the pilgrims.
The committee is headed by the former governor of the state, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, who doubles as the state’s Amirul Hajji.