Borno ends submission of e-passports in weeks

Makinta said out of 3, 280 seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over 2,700 beneficiaries have obtained their e-passports with screening committees set up by the board across the 27 local government areas of the state to coordinate the process. He said the hajj committees which comprised officials […]

Makinta said out of 3, 280 seats allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over 2,700 beneficiaries have obtained their e-passports with screening committees set up by the board across the 27 local government areas of the state to coordinate the process.

He said the hajj committees which comprised officials from the board, police men, SSS, local government representatives, district/village heads and chaired by senior Immigration officers in every council was set up to fish out any none Nigerian that is not eligible as well as any Nigerian with criminal records based on community knowledge of the person in other to avoid air lifting criminals or those who have tendencies of absconding in the holy land.

Makinta said the committees have done marvellously well as attested to by the intending pilgrims as well as the C-G of Immigration who recently visited the state.

The Executive Secretary noted that the Immigration has assured the board that there are sufficient booklets for issuance of e-passports to the remaining intending pilgrims and said the board intends to end collation of passports by middle of August, 2009 so that visa processing can commence in compliance with the proactive measures adopted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to start facilitating issuance of visas in the month of Ramadan.

On the year’s fares, Makinta said that the state added about N5,000 on each seat to the amount announced by NAHCON which is a usual practice nationwide to cater for numerous activities carried out by the board and as a result, N475, 736. 38 kobo was collected for minimum seat with $750 as Basic Travelling Allowance; N512, 788.23 with $1000 as BTA for medium seat and N586, 891.93 with $1,500 as BTA was collected for maximum seat. He noted that all seats have been exhausted. He assured this year’s intending pilgrims of comfortable accommodation while in the holy land as the state government has already secured hostels not far from the holy Ka’abah.