Intending pilgrims from Kano State have called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Saudi Arabian authorities to enable the Saudi Consulate commence the issuance of visas to pilgrims.
Some of the pilgrims, who spoke in Kano on Monday, said the call was necessary in order to facilitate the issuance of the document.
Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board forwarded 3, 724 passports to Saudi Consulate in Kano on Aug. 25.
The pilgrims, who expressed concern over the delay in the issuance of the document, said it could affect the entire Hajj operation.
One of the pilgrims, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar said the there was an urgent need for the federal Ggovernment to intervene in the issue so as to enable prospective pilgrims perform the Hajj.
Another intending pilgrim, Alhaji Abashe Musa, urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to do everything possible to ensure that the visas were issued to the pilgrims.
He said it was to enable them to perform the Hajj this year.
“I wonder what is causing the delay. The airlift of intending pilgrims is scheduled for Sept. 6’’, he said.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, said the Saudi Consulate was yet to issue a single visa in Kano.
He said that the passports which were sent to the consulate on Aug. 25, were still unattended
