From: Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Katsina State Government says it spens N1 billion annually as subsidy for intending pilgrims on Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The amount, according to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, was used mainly as subsidy for activities of the pilgrims in the Holy Land.
Speaking, on Wednesday, when he inaugurated an 18-man reconstituted board of the state’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Masari justified the expenditure arguing that no amount of money spent on religious activities can be said to be too much especially for a state with about 99 per cent predominant Muslim population.
The Governor explained that pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia is not picnic or a holiday but an art of worship as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam as he urged the intending pilgrims to persevere and reflect on the pioneer Muslims who performed the Hajj exercise in a much more difficult circumstances when compared to present day Muslims.
He noted that the Islamic religion stipulates that only those with good health and enough resources are recommended to travel for the Hajj exercise and urged clerics to preach only on Hajj exercise in the Holy Land and avoid sentiments.
Masari prayed for the success of the new Chairman and Board members and asked for a good report to improve future Hajj operations.
In his acceptance remark, the new Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Salisu Ado Shinkafi, assured that his team would not disappoint the Governor and people of the state and called for cooperation from the intending pilgrims in order to achieve success.