Bauchi 2014 pilgrims’ home return ends successfully

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

The Emir of Bauchi and State Amirul Hajj, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, has commended the Yuguda-led administration for the realization of the decade-old planned Bauchi International Airport, named after the late prime minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

The Amirul Hajj, shortly after arrival aboard the sixth Max Air 747 aircraft marking the last return batch of the state pilgrims from Saudi Arabia yesterday, said the construction of the new airport has made the pilgrimage undertaken by the Muslims in the state less cumbersome.

“Previously, our pilgrims enroute Kano airport and later Gombe airport, would in both places spend 2 – 3 days before the airlift. Today, it takes intending Bauchi pilgrims few minutes to go to the airport to commence the pilgrimage to the Holy land”, he said.

Dr. Adamu, who described as very successful this year’s Hajj pilgrimage for the State Pilgrims Board and the 2, 896 pilgrims that performed the religious obligation, prayed that God will continue to give Governor Isa Yuguda the capacity to execute such laudable projects that is immensely beneficial to the people.

The Amirul Hajj was received by Governor Isa Yuguda at the Sir Abubakar International Airport, Bauchi, which was officially commissioned Sunday, September 21, 2014 and coincided with the airlift of the state intending pilgrims to the Holy land.

Also speaking at the International Arrival wing of the airport, the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Hajj Matters, Alhaji Bala Baba Karami, noted that this year’s Hajj was hitch-free as, according to him, no problem encountered between the Pilgrims Welfare Board and the carrier airline.

He advised future intending pilgrims from the state to be abreast with Hajj rites, rules and regulations governing the pilgrimage, to be law-abiding and above all, have the fear of God before the commencement of the religious obligation, as panacea for the success of the exercise.