From daily trust

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed satisfaction with the availability and state of facilities at the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.  

The Director, Inspectorate and Compliance of the commission, Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shamaki, gave the commendation while speaking with pressmen shortly after the inspection of the facilities in Katsina.

“Actually our visit here is impressive. I am particularly impressed with their ICT facilities here, as you know, ICT has taken over all activities of Hajj.

“I am also impressed with the store, screening centre and demonstration centre also because it is a very useful means of teaching hajj practically to intending pilgrims,” he said.  

He further stated that his committee would look at all other aspects of the inspection and grade the board accordingly.  

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Suleiman Nuhu Koki, said the board used the idle time caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a window of opportunity to plan for Umrah operations.  

“If not for the suspension and ban on entry placed on Nigeria by the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA), the first contingent of Umrah pilgrims from the state would have been in Saudi Arabia by January this year. 

“On our commitment towards planning a hitch-free 2022 Hajj operations, we have in conjunction with the state primary health care development agency conducted the first and second COVID-19 vaccination exercise to all our 2020/2021 Hajj roll-over intending pilgrims and officials,”.