By Daniel Maduka
With the February 12 deadline for preparations and payments for this year’s Hajji, the prevalent harsh economic situation in the country have exacted its toll on the exercise. Many intending Muslim pilgrims from kano are set to forego the journey to the Holy land.
With the Monday deadline for the completion of payments for the Hajj package beckoning, only 2,300 seats ,out of a total of 5, 934 approved for intending Kano pilgrims have been subscribed to as at Saturday February 10
This is even as the Director- General of the Kano state Muslim pilgrims Welfare Board , Alhaji Laminu Rabiu Danbappa ,has said that the 2,300 intending pilgrims are yet to complete the payments of the # 4.7 million total Hajj package.
At the official flag off of an enlightenment programme for intending pilgrims on Saturday, February 10, in the ancient city, Alhaji Danbappa while calling on the intending pilgrims to pay up, insisted that the Monday February 12 ,deadline remains sacrosanct .
He informed that a total of 5,934 Hajj seats have been alloted to kano pilgrims this year by the National Hajj Commission ,,with only 2,300 seats so far subscribed to .
Alhaji Danbappa further said that the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Hajji Commission are insisting that all arrangements concerning this years Hajj will end on Monday February 12..
With more than half of the seats alloted still available ,the DG of the state pilgrims Board called on interested persons to avail themselves the remaining period before the dateline.
However, indications remained strong as at the time of this report that most intending pilgrims may have resolved to shelve this year’s exercise, owing largely to the realities of the current unfavorable economic situation.
The under-subscription of available official seats this year marks a drastic departure from the past when intending pilgrims struggled and even lobbied for seats.
