The Executive Chairman, Ebonyi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abass Egwuu, says the state government considers hajj sponsorship as an important social responsibility.
Egwuu said in Abuja on Tuesday that Gov. David Umahi was supporting the board to discharge its duties effectively, adding that hajj sponsorship is part of a social responsibility of every sensitive government.
He urged other state governors to take hajj sponsorship serious to enhance public confidence in governance.
Egwuu said that preparations for the 2017 hajj operation had reached advanced stage, adding that the board had secured decent accommodation for its pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
“Gov. Umahi has made the job very easy for me since I was appointed. He has consistently sponsored the board, paid allowances to board members and also sponsored private pilgrimage,” he said.
Egwuu added that the board had organised several orientation programmes for intending pilgrims in the state, adding that pilgrims enlightenment and education was ongoing in Yoruba, Hausa and the indigenous Muslim communities in various mosques across the state.
“Apart from that, we have a centre which is known as the Islamic Centre located at Ebonyi South Senatorial District. So, what we normally do is to encourage our Muslim brothers and sisters to go to the mosque for education.
“However, we do enlightenment through radio and television programmes to ensure wider coverage,” he said.
The National Hajj Commission had allocated 97 hajj slots to Ebonyi and approved N1.52 million as 2017 hajj fare for the state.