Yusha'u A. Ibrahim
18 November 2008
Kano — Five hundred pilgrims from Kano State were yesterday airlifted to Saudi Arabia from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) by Kabo Air for this year's hajj. The pilgrims were drawn from four local governments of Wudil, Bichi, Bebeji and Garun-Malam. Some officials of medical and Islamic preachers' teams were also among those airlifted.
Daily Trust further gathered that Kano has a total of 7,000 intending pilgrims to be airlifted to holy land by Kabo Air this year. It would be recalled that airlift of Kano pilgrims was expected to kick-off since 14th of November, but owing to the delay caused by the carrier, they were not airlifted until yesterday. Speaking to Daily Trust, the zonal coordinator of the Nigerian Hajj Commission, Alhaji Mustapha Baffa Chinade said the first batch brought the total number of flights recorded at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) to five since the commencement of this year's hajj operation. Alhaji Baffa Chinade hinted that the management of Kabo Air was fined some amount of money for the delay caused by the company in airlifting Kano pilgrims. Addressing the first batch shortly before their departure, Kano State Amirul Hajj, Alhaji AbdulAzizi Garba Gafasa charged them to be good ambassadors of Kano while in holy land. Alhaji Garaba Gafasa, who is also the Speaker, state House of Assembly enjoyed the intending pilgrims to strictly follow the dictates of Islam while performing the hajj obligations, saying; "You should always remember what our Islamic scholars taught you concerning the hajj."
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