Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has stepped in to ensure the swift and safe return home of Pilgrims from Kano by engaging the management of Max Air over evacuation arrangements.
The Governor disclosed this during a Sallah visit to Kano pilgrims and Hajj officials in Makkah, where he assessed their welfare and extended festive greetings. He said discussions were already underway with the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, to expedite the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria.
Governor Yusuf assured the pilgrims that he would personally follow up with the airline’s management to ensure there were no unnecessary delays in the return process, stressing that their comfort and safety remained a priority for his administration.
In a move aimed at directly evaluating services being provided to the pilgrims, the Governor also visited the catering company responsible for supplying food and beverages. According to him, he personally tasted the meals being served and found them satisfactory.
“I have personally tested the food being served, and it is the same food I have been eating since my arrival here. It is the same food you are being served,” the Governor told the gathering.
The Amirul Hajj and Emir of Gaya, Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, informed the Governor that Kano pilgrims had successfully completed the Hajj rites and expressed satisfaction with the services rendered by the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
He commended the Governor for providing a 200 Saudi Riyal stipend to each pilgrim, as well as quality feeding and transportation arrangements throughout the exercise.
Similarly, the Deputy Amirul Hajj and Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Muhammad Maharaz, praised Governor Yusuf for personally visiting the pilgrims and for the measures put in place to ensure their welfare during the pilgrimage.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle, briefed the Governor on the progress of the Hajj operation, highlighting challenges encountered in the issuance of pilgrim identification documents and efforts being made to ensure that all pilgrims return home with their luggage intact.
Governor Yusuf, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, is expected back in Kano after concluding his brief visit to the holy land.