The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has secured visas for only 3,200 out of the 6,607 state’s intending pilgrims expected to perform the 2017 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Already, the airlift of the intending pilgrims has commenced, with Abuja, Kaduna and others states continuing the airlift.
But the Public Relations Officer of the board in Kano, Nuhu Badamasi, disclosed in Kano on Wednesday that board had submitted another batch of 1,500 passports for the intending pilgrims to the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Kano for the issuance of visa.
“The board has forwarded another 1, 500 passports to the Saudi Consulate to process the visa.
“We want to secure the visa for all our intending pilgrims before the commencement of the airlift which is scheduled to begin on August 8,” he said.
Mr Badamasi Azman and Max Airlines were expected to transport the state’s intending pilgrims to the Holy Land for the exercise.
He said based on the arrangement, Azman Airline would commence the airlift on August 11, while Max Air would start the airlift of its allocated pilgrims on August 13.
He said the transportation of the pilgrims was expected to last for less than two weeks, as it would be completed on August 21.
“If things go as expected, the transportation of our pilgrims will be concluded on August 21,” he said.
He added that the board had made adequate preparations at home and in the Holy Land to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims as well as the success of the entire Hajj operation.
Mr Badamasi then called on the intending pilgrims to give the board the necessary support and cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise.
He said that the two airlines had pledged that they would do their best to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free.
