2014 Hajj: Gaidam charges Amirul Hajj’s team on effective leadership

From Uche Uche, Damaturu

To ensure successful and hitch-free hajj exercise by pilgrims from Yobe state, Governor (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam has called on the Amirul hajj team and the state pilgrims’ commission to work collectively for effective leadership.

The Governor, who made the call yesterday, while inaugurating a 10 man Amirul hajj committee for the 2014 pilgrimage to Mecca, also enjoined them to work with dedication and commitment to justify the confidence reposed on them by the government, and their Muslim brothers.

He said his administration attaches great importance towards assisting intending pilgrims because of the value attached to the exercise, which he said is one of the five cardinal principles of Islam, an obligation which every Muslim, who has the means should perform at least once in his or her lifetime.

He stressed however, that if everything involved in the exercise were left to the individual Muslim, the cost would be too prohibitive thus, the government assistance in this regard.

He announced therefore, that the state government welfare package for the 2014 hajj exercise, includes: provision of free feeding to all pilgrims and the officials at hajj transit camp, Minna and at the Arafat; provision of standard and befitting accommodation within walking distance from the Masjid-al-Haram in Makka and Masjid al-Nabawiy in Madina, on subsidy to all 2,260 pilgrims from the state while in the holy land.

Others are: provision of free Ihram for each male pilgrim as well as Hijab and ihram for female pilgrims, 300 Saudi Riyals to each pilgrim for the purchase of ram for Hadaya, attachment of 6-man medical team and provision of drugs to cater for healthcare needs of the pilgrims.

He also announced the provision of logistic support to the state Hajj commission both at home and in the holy land to facilitate movement of the pilgrims, procurement of modernized machines and equipment for the pilgrims’ commission for preparation of their documents in conjunction with federal ministry of foreign affairs and visa issuance.

The 2014 Amirul Hajj 10-man team has as its chairman, His royal father, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, who is the Mai Bade and the deputy chairman, Yobe state council of chiefs, while Alhaji Bukar Kime serves as the team secretary.