Hajj 2015: Gombe begins process of pilgrims’ passports

The Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says 90 per cent passports of intending pilgrims for 2015 hajj in the state is ready for visa.

Alhaji Usman Gurama, the Executive Secretary of the board, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Sunday.

He said that the board had completed allocation of seats to intending pilgrims in the state.

According to him, the board is only waiting for the announcement of final fares for this year from the National Hajj Commission for the prospective pilgrims to complete payments.

“At this point, we have reached up to 90 per cent level of preparations for the 2015 hajj as far as Gombe state is concerned.

“Because we have finished distribution of seats to intending pilgrims and most of them have paid, the only thing we are waiting is the final fares to be declared by the National Hajj Commission.

“We have concluded arrangement with the bags-producing companies and we have procured uniforms and all other necessary things.

“We also have on ground passports that are ready for visa almost 90 per cent as far as we concerned,’’ he said.

According to him, the board has completed the necessary arrangements for securing a befitting accommodation for the intending pilgrims to Mecca from the state.

He however called on the intending pilgrims to cooperate with the officials to enable them to serve them better.

“They should be listening to radio stations and other means of communication for any other information that concern the pilgrimage,’’ he said.