The Zamfara Government on Wednesday announced that it would drop 366 intending pilgrims to the 2013 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the state Task Force Committee on Hajj, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, stated this in Gusau after the committee’s meeting. He told newsmen that the reduction was a result of the 20 per cent cut in the number of pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj by the Saudi Authorities. Wakkala said the situation would bring down the number of Zamfara pilgrims from 4,088 to 3, 712. He disclosed that over 5000 intending pilgrims had registered with the committee and that a total of 4,441 had paid their fares for the trip to Saudi Arabia. The deputy governor assured that those performing the Hajj for the first time would be given priority, while those that missed the chance to travel would be given high consideration in 2014. Wakkala said that the state government had made adequate arrangements for the success of this year’s pilgrimage.
