Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has announced a 20 per cent increase in the number of muslim pilgrims from the state that would perform the hajj from next year.

This brings the number of muslim pilgrims sponsored by the state government annually from 500 to 600

Governor Amaechi announced this today while addressing a delegation of muslim faithfuls in the state, who paid him the traditional sallah visit at Government House, Port Harcourt as part of this year's eid-El-Kabir celebration.

Earlier Rivers state islamic leader, Alhaji Ahmad Okiri, said the Eid-El-Kabir was designed by God to assure them that humanity can achieve peace, unity and all-round progress if they obey his commandments, and commended Governor Amaechi for governing the state in that direction.