…elated by clearance of 460 pilgrims from the State for 2024 Hajj
From Lateef Taiwo
The Governor of Kogi State , Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the state for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers who were abducted outside the state but rescued from criminal elements by security agencies in the state.
This is even as he commended the National Hajj Commission ( NAHCON) , for clearing 460 pilgrims from the State for the 2024 Hajj exercise after full payments of expected fees , largely made possible by contributory hajj savings scheme , set up by his predecessor , Alhaji Yahaya Bello .
Ododo in separate statements signed by his Special Adviser on Media , Ismaila Isah and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday ,welcomes the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the state and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
He specifically commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention that led to the rescue of the 43 bus passengers who were abducted outside the state.
The Governor also lauded the prompt intervention made by the security agencies in thwarting attempted robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgent interventions from the relevant security agencies at the scene of crime anywhere in the State .
” I assure the people of this great State that my administration will not relent in its efforts on deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements”, he said .
Ododo in another statement , applauded Contributory Hajj Savings Scheme , set up by his predecessor , Alhaji Yahaya Bello , which largely accounted for 460 pilgrims already cleared for 2024 Hajj exercise from Kogi State by the National Hajj Commission ( NAHCON) .
He said the Contributory Savings Scheme made half of the 460 pilgrims to meet up with increase in the cost of the religious exercise .
He accordingly promised to sustain the scheme just as he commended the Kogi State Hajj Commission , National Hajj Commission and President Bola Tinubu for the concerted efforts being made to make 2024 Hajj exercise for the intending pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia .
“Increase in the 2024 Hajj fare caused by foreign exchange differentials resulted in over 1.9 million Naira extra charges per pilgrim in Nigeria with only Kogi State now fully cleared of the over 800 million Naira that should have been paid by its over 460 pilgrims now set to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah”, the governor stressed .
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