The Niger State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has warned its officials against accepting cash from intending pilgrims in the state for the 2024 hajj exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Aliyu, gave the warning in Minna while flagging off the distribution of hajj seats to the Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers (APWOs) from the 25 LGAs of the state.
The Executive Secretary also warned APWOs against the sale of forms to intending pilgrims, saying the forms were to be given out free of charge after an intending pilgrim might have paid the stipulated deposit of the hajj fare.
He said the board had received complaints and allegations of extortion from some intending pilgrims against their APWOs, saying that phone numbers had been provided to entertain challenges and complaints from intending pilgrims.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Religious Affairs in the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Isah, said the state assembly would support the Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure the success of the exercise.
He also warned that any Area Pilgrims Welfare officers found extorting intending pilgrims would be made to face the law.
He disclosed that 3,592 seats had been allocated to Niger State by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Responding, the Chairman, Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers Forum in the state and APWO of Chanchaga LGA, Abusufyan Ahmed Sirisiri, lamented that the activities of the area officers at the local governments were not being well funded, especially transportation and other logistics, forcing some of them to extort the intending pilgrims.
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