Hadaya: We made sacrifices for our pilgrims – Kaduna Hajj Chairman

The Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S Abubakar, has said that animal sacrifice has been performed for all pilgrims that paid their Hadaya through the Agency.

Malam Salihu made the clarification on Monday, following widespread complaints amongst some pilgrims that they had paid Hadaya but no evidence that rams have been slaughtered in fulfilment of their Hajj obligations.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa on Tuesday, noted that Hadaya is the money that pilgrims pay for animals to be slaughtered on their behalf on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

The statement maintained that some pilgrims had complained to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON), that the animal sacrifice was not done for them despite paying Hadaya.

Addressing Kaduna pilgrims, Malam Salihu noted that the names of all those who paid Hadaya have been displayed at the pilgrims’ residence, adding that officials had informed pilgrims to check their names.

The Executive Chairman challenged any pilgrim from Kaduna State who has valid evidence of payment but his name is not on the list, to meet him for further investigations.

He recalled that 827 intending pilgrims had paid their Hadaya in Nigeria before setting foot in Saudi Arabia, to the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, while 47 others paid through NAHCON.

According to him, 54 others paid in Saudi Arabia, totalling 928 pilgrims and amounting to 668, 160 Saudi Riyals.

The Executive Chairman recalled that only a few pilgrims had presented evidence of payment but their names were not on the displayed list.

”We crossed checked their receipts with our records and discovered that those category of pilgrims made payments via Point Of Sale(POS) platforms and the payments didn’t reflect their names,” he clarified.

Malam Salihu who said that the error has been rectified, reiterated that the Special Hajj Committee of Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency which he heads, is holding the position in trust for Governor Uba Sani.

He vowed that members of the Committee will not do anything that will betray the trust bestowed on them, tarnish the Governor’s image or short-change any pilgrim.