The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has revealed that 156 intending pilgrims will miss the next hajj due to the excessive number of hajj seats sold by the sacked officials of the agency. The National Hajj Commission had allocated 6,144 seats to Kano, but the commission sold 156 more seats. This revelation was made by the Director-General of the board, Alhaji Laminu Rabiu, during a media chat in Kano. He promised to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the incident after the hajj exercise.
Rabiu appealed to those affected to be patient and promised to give them priority treatment in the next hajj. Meanwhile, only 2,558 pilgrims have been airlifted to the Holy Land by the board as it awaits the allocation of aircraft from the National Hajj Commission in the next few days.
The Director-General disclosed that he found out all the seats had been sold out by the then Secretary of the board when he resumed office. Moreover, 156 seats had been oversold, which meant that the affected pilgrims would not be allowed to perform the Hajj, even after making all payments and fulfilling the requirements.
It is really very sad to collect people’s money and disappoint them after they might have informed all and sundry that they were going to attend the pilgrimage, Rabiu said. We have pleaded with them to be patient and assured them that next year they would be among the first to be considered. Already, 2,558 have since been successfully airlifted to the Holy Land.
Rabiu added that the incident would be thoroughly investigated after the Hajj, and those found guilty of any misconduct would face the wrath of the law accordingly. It is disappointing that some officials would act so recklessly and jeopardize the dreams of pilgrims who have been saving and preparing for years to embark on the holy pilgrimage. The affected pilgrims deserve not only an apology but also some sort of compensation for their inconvenience.
