2016 HAJJ: KATSINA PROBES EXERCISE; Sets Up 8-man Committee

BELLO MASARI

An 8-man Public Hearing Committee has been Constituted by the Katsina State Government to investigate and submit its reports on the anomalies recorded during the 2016 Hajj exercise.

Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Suleiman Safana, announced this in Daura on Wednesday when he addressed a group of 584 pilgrims who performed the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The Committee Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman said the committee was mandated to conduct a public hearing across the three senatorial districts of Daura, Funtua and Katsina to hear from the “horse’s mouth”.

The decision to form the committee, according to Safana, was informed by the series of complaints raised by the pilgrims during and after the Hajj exercise.

The State Pilgrims Welfare Board was blamed of mishandling the last exercise especially on pilgrims accommodation, basic travel allowance and issuance of travel visa to international pilgrims, he said.

"The committee would submit its findings to the state government for necessary action".

“We were not here on a witch hunt mission, rather to clarify issues”, Safana said.

A cross section of the pilgrims commended the Katsina State Government for providing delicious food and transportation in the Holy land.

One of the pilgrims, Hajiya Saude Tasiu advised the state government to centralise the accommodation of the pilgrims for easy access to the Holy mosques and convenience of the pilgrims.

She lauded the efforts of the state government for donating 300 Saudi riyals to each pilgrim, adding: “We appreciate the gesture”.

Various stakeholders on Hajj attended the hearing in which brainstorming issues were raised on how to improve the exercise.
(NAN)