May 12, (THEWILL) – The Sokoto State Government has commenced an orientation programme for its 2024 intending pilgrims across the twenty-three local government areas of the state.
The event, which kicked off on Saturday, in the Gidan Madi area of Tangaza Local Government Area, was to educate the intending pilgrims about the complex nature and rigours of the Hajj exercise in order to adequately prepare them ahead of the exercise.
Members from the Da’awah Committee, led by Sheik Salisu Imam Isa, highlighted how a successful Hajj should be conducted.
In his welcome address, the Sole Administrator of Tangaza LGA, Hon. Isa Salihu Bashir Kalanjeni, applauded the State Government for the gesture, saying the exercise was timely and needed.
Kalanjeni also said his administration is very concerned about the successful conduct of the Hajj.
“There are people that we engage at the local government level to sensitise our pilgrims apart from the ones sent by the State Government.
“We at the local government level will do everything possible to meet up with the needs of our pilgrims. We have 305 pilgrims out of which five are officials of the local government. All necessary arrangements for their welfare are in order
“We will make sure that we complement the efforts of the State Government to give our pilgrims the best in terms of accommodation, food and their health.
“We’re so much aware of the security challenges in some of our villages, therefore, we have made all the necessary arrangements for their safety during their journey to Sokoto where they will take off from and when they are back,” he said.
In his lecture to the pilgrims, the Deputy Director, Da’awah, Malam Umar Faruk Suleiman, warned the pilgrims to desist from any kind of act that would cause them trouble.
Faruk cautions the pilgrims that on no account should they engage in any form of immorality in the Holy Land, especially anything that has to do with the smuggling of drugs
Abubakar Aminu, one of the intending pilgrims, thanked the State Government for conducting such an event, saying, “We are happy that the government is doing this. This will be our first time going for Hajj, therefore, there is a need to enlighten us on how to conduct our act of worship.
Mariyaa Umar, another intending pilgrim, commended the effort of the Local Government Chairman, saying the LGA had always been with them right from when they started paying for the holy visit.
About the Author
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
