Pilgrimage: Pregnant Women To Lose Slots

The Special Adviser to Governor Yuguda on Hajj Affairs, Alhaji Sanusi Sarkin-Aska, has warned Local Government Hajj Officers in Bauchi State against the allocation of seats to pregnant women.

Addressing the officers from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state on Tuesday in Bauchi, Sarki-Aska urged them to ensure thorough screening before forwarding the names of  intending femalepilgrims to the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

He reminded the officers that the detection of any pregnant woman on pilgrimage attracted severe sanctions from the Saudi authorities.

Sarki-Aska expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of most of the Local Government Hajj Affairs Officers during the 2011 exercise.

According to him, the officers are in the habit of abandoning their pilgrims immediately they arrive in the holy land.

He warned that henceforth, such conduct would be viewed seriously.

In his remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Umar Yayagana, assured that his Board had made adequate arrangements for a hitch-free pilgrimage this year.

He commended the state government for securing befitting accommodation for its pilgrims in Mecca, and called on the pilgrims to reciprocate the gesture by being law abiding.