In a bid to alleviate the hardship faced by some pilgrims who lost their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) in Saudi Arabia, the Kano State Government has provided financial assistance by granting over 30,000 Saudi Riyals to 50 affected contingents.
The announcement was made by Alhaji Laminu Rabiu Danbappa, the Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, during an interaction with journalists at the Holy City of Makka.
The acting chairman of the Kano State Media team for the 2023 Hajj, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, conveyed this information through a statement.
According to the statement, Alhaji Danbappa explained that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, out of his magnanimity, gave the approval for the release of the amount in the board’s appropriation aimed at assisting the victims but not to compensate them, hoping what happened will serve as atonement.
He added that the beneficiaries received half of the money ranging from 750 Saudi Riyals to 500 US Dollars.
He, however, stated that the major beneficiary was a female from Gwale Local Government Area who lost 1,000 US dollars and received 500 US Dollars.
READ ALSO: Court Acquits Former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, Son of Money Laundering Charges
According to the statement, one of the beneficiaries, Yunusa Ibrahim from Rimingado Local Government Area, who lost his waist bag with $500 and N100,000 local currency on his way out of haram after circumambulation, said he was given 750 Saudi Riyals courtesy of the Governor’s benevolence
While speaking on when the airlift of pilgrims will be back home, the Director General of the outfit said over 3,000 entourage have so far been flown in six flights, adding that the seventh and eighth batches will depart not later than the middle of this week.
He, however, hinted that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had assured them of the completion of the operation, barring any hitch, before Sunday 31st of this month.