By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
The Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State has reiterated the need for Almajiri in the country to also enroll into formal education.
The governor gave the advise in Jos, while bidding farewell to the 2019 Intending Pilgrims from Plateau state.
“I’m delighted by the performance of the little boy who just recited the Quran, let also encourage such children to also again western education.”
He charged the intending pilgrims to be of good behavior while performing their religious obligations.
“I urged you all to be good ambassadors of Plateau state; and observe the rules and regulations of the Saudi authority. Also, remember to pray for our President, and pray for permanent peace for the northern states, and the entire country Nigeria.” Governor Lalong solicited.
He revealed that Plateau state government sponsored 630 Muslims to the Saudi Arabia for the Islamic religious obligation.
The governor commended current officials of the Plateau State Muslim Welfare Board for being prudent in managing resources accrued to the board.
“The executive secretary Plateau state Muslim Welfare Board, in mid 2018, under the leadership of the executive secretary, Plateau state for the first time in the history, recorded what has now become an uncommon feat by returning a total sum of fifty eight million (58million) being unexpended funds after completion of the pilgrimage of that year (2018) without complains.”
Governor Lalong said he had settled corruption cases at Plateau state Pilgrimage Welfare Board on assumption of office as governor in 2015.
In their separate speeches, the Executive Secretary Plateau Muslim Pilgrimage Welfare Board, Barr Auwal Abdullahi, and the 2019 Amirul Haji, Justice Muhammad Sirajo, both cautioned intending pilgrims on obeying and observing Saudi Arabian laws.
The Amirul Haji assured pilgrims of their safety “we have also been assured by the airlines and our landlords in Saudi Arabia that they are ready to ensure a hitch free haji operation.”
On his part, the executive secretary revealed that the Plateau state government have settled the airfare of those who had earlier missed 2014 and 2015 pilgrimage due to corruption of board officials.
“It is instructive to note here that you (governor Lalong) have graciously approved the refund of Haji fare of 30 deferees who were not able to perform the 2015 Haji.”
1195 intending pilgrims are set to perform the 2019 Muslim Pilgrimage, 61 of the pilgrims are operational staff.
