The executive secretary of the Bauchi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Abdulrahaman Idris Abdulrahman, has expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded by the agency since the inception of Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration in 2019.
He made this known yesterday during a live phone-in programme, “Scorecards” monitored by our correspondent, where he outlined the progress made under his leadership.
Abdulrahman recalled that the board was confronted with numerous challenges at the time, including a lack of functional vehicles, inadequate facilities, and the absence of a befitting Hajj camp.
According to him, one of the first interventions was the provision of seven new vehicles to ease the smooth running of the agency’s activities.
He noted that Governor Bala Mohammed also swiftly approved the construction of a modern Hajj camp named Sultan Abubakar Hajj Camp, strategically located at the Bauchi Airport with full security coverage from the Nigerian Air Force.
The new camp, he said, replaced the old facility at the Games Village, which often disrupted sporting activities. The camp now boasts offices for senior officials, two conference halls, one for pilgrims’ lectures and another for security agencies’ operations, shops, hostels for male and female pilgrims, and a restaurant, all fully equipped with modern facilities.
The executive secretary further explained that after the COVID-19 suspension of pilgrimages in 2020 and 2021, Bauchi State successfully resumed operations in 2022.
He noted with pride that the state was ranked among the best nationwide for peaceful and successful Hajj operations.
Idris acknowledged some concerns, including congestion during the distribution of uniforms, bags, and other items. He also promised to address complaints raised by members of the Fulani community regarding payment processes.
He pledged continuous improvement in service delivery and commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his unwavering support of the board.
He also called on the Muslim community to rally behind the governor in sustaining the state’s development efforts.
