Borno Govt. spent N500 million in 2014 Hajj

Borno Government has spent about N500 million for suitable accommodation and welfare for its pilgrims in the 2014 Hajj, Alhaji Zannah Umar, the Deputy Governor has said.

Umar who doubled as the state amirul Hajj disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Makkah.

He said the amount was expended in providing befitting accommodation to enable the state pilgrims perform their Hajj rites successfully in Saudi Arabia.

He explained that part of the expenditure was on the provision of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), for the pilgrims.

According to him, 300 Saudi Riyals has also been given to each of the 2645 pilgrims as subsidy for slaughtering of sacrificial rams known as "Hadaya".

He said , the state government despite its security challenges has remain steadfast in ensuring hitch-free Hajj in the last four years.

The Deputy Governor equally thanked Governor Sule Lamido and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso for the great assistance during the airlift of Borno Pilgrims in its airport.

"We are also appealing to the federal government to reopen the Maiduguri International Airport to avert the difficult situation the State found itself especially,the risky movement of pilgrims from Maiduguri to Jigawa and Kano for this year's airlift to the aholy land.