Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has received a Special Service Award for providing pilgrims the enabling environment to perform the 2023 Hajj.

The National Coordinator of Independent Hajj Reporters, Ibrahim Muhammed, made this known at the 2023 Hajj Lecture and Award ceremony held at the National Mosque in Kaduna on Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Muhammed, while justifying the award given to Sani, said the accommodation of Kaduna State pilgrims was the best in Saudi Arabia amongst Nigerian pilgrims.

He stated that the governor gave Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency the necessary financial support and a free hand to conduct the last pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

According to him, Governor Sani ensured the security of pilgrims before the airlift of pilgrims at both the Hajj camp and the airport.

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The Director General of Interfaith, Tahir Umar Tahir, who received the award on the governor’s behalf, thanked Independent Hajj Reporters for acknowledging the efforts of the Kaduna State Government towards making Hajj as hitch-free as possible.

Tahir promised that the state government will improve on its present record in the next Hajj exercise.

The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Dr Yusuf Arrigassiyu, was also given the 2023 Executive Secretary and Hajj Administrator award.

The organisers stated that Arrigassiyu assisted intending pilgrims in preparing for Hajj, provided a  conducive environment for religious exercise, and helped pilgrims in achieving Hajj Mabroor in 2023.

“Kaduna State Pilgrims Agency also airlifted all pilgrims with visa to Saudi Arabia by ensuring proper coordination with airlines, National Hajj Commission Of Nigeria (NAHCON), and other stakeholders,” the Independent Hajj Reporters added.

It said Arrigassiyu stayed with the pilgrims in the same accommodation, led them in prayers, and sensitised them on how to perform Hajj Mabroor in Saudi Arabia.

Further justifying why he was given the award, the organisers said: “The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency was always in his uniform throughout the Hajj exercise.”

The Star