Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has increased the pilgrims’ accommodation fees for the 2024 Hajj exercise.

The governor also inaugurated a 23-member Amirul Hajj committee.

The committee has Sen. Kaka Shehu-Lawan as chairman, while Mohammed Dawule-Mainok will serve as secretary.

Mr Zulum stated this during the committee’s inauguration on Saturday in Maiduguri and tasked the committee with ensuring a smooth exercise.

He said the state government had increased the pilgrims’ accommodation fees to ensure decent accommodations in the Holy Land.

“The money for accommodation is 3,000 Saudi Riyal per pilgrim but we added 450 Riyal for each pilgrim to make it 3,450.

“Pilgrims need to know their room numbers before reaching there and those who want to stay together should be allowed to do so,” he said.

Mr Zulum urged the committee not to allow any pilgrim to reschedule his/her flight, adding that anyone who missed the flight would have to wait for the last flight if there was space.

The governor charged the committee to ensure adequate mobilisation, pointing out that pilgrims need to know their flight two weeks ahead of time.

The governor, who also spoke on the need to reorganise the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, announced plans to upgrade it to a commission to enhance its operations.

Responding, Mr Shehu-Lawan thanked the governor for the confidence reposed on them, assuring that they would implement the terms of reference given them to the latter.

He said the committee would hit the ground running in discharging the trust bestowed on them.

The chairman also urged for the support and cooperation of the pilgrims to facilitate a hitch free exercise.

(NAN)