Hajj 2016: Gov sani Bello Commends Amirul Hajj for Prudent Management of Resources
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has commended the effort of 2016 Amirul Hajj for the prudent management of resources which led to about 75 per cent reduction in the operational cost for the 2016 hajj exercise, the lowest in recent years.
Receiving the Amirul-Hajj report for the year, at Government House Minna, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello described the effort as unprecedented and commendable stressing that it was in line with the administration’s mission to stop wastages with prudent management of resources.
The Governor noted that, despite the absence of a properly constituted board, it was a good start the State Pilgrim’s Welfare Commission (NSPWC) was able to save cost by utilizing under N500Million as the against the over N2Billion spent in the previous years.
He expressed gratitude to the Amirul-Hajj Team, leadership and staff of the commission for jointly working to ensure a cost-effective and very successful hajj exercise assuring that a properly constituted board would be soon be in place.
Governor Sani Bello also assured that government would look into the report and address some of the challenges encountered during the 2016 Hajj towards a better and more successful exercise in the coming years.
Earlier, the 2016 Amirul-Hajj, General Idris Garba (rtd), advocated for the greater inclusion and or participation of Local Government Councils in the pre-hajj, hajj and post-hajj arrangements for a better management of the pilgrims.
General Idris Garba called on the state government to institute a unified Estacode as well as a policy in the appointment or recruitment of Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers (APWOs) to ensure that only knowledgeable and God-fearing people are brought into the system.
He announced the retrieval of eight vehicles and office equipment, property of the state government that were seized by a service provider (AFWAZ) as a result of breach of contractual agreement by the previous government and requested payment to the Saudi Lawyer who handled the case.
Jibrin Baba Ndace
Chief Press Secretary
