Gigawa State Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar has said his administration saved over N500 million on this year’s hajj.
The governor spoke yesterday at the Dutse International Airport when he addressed reporters on this year’s pilgrimage before departing to the holy land.
He said: “We spent N280 million on this year’s hajj, against the N780 million spent last year. We are confident to have better and effective services.
“This year, we stopped government’s sponsorship and reduced the number of board’s members and officials whose services are not needed there.”
Abuabkar urged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria and avoid carrying illegal materials.
Four hundred and eighty intending pilgrims were conveyed in the first batch from the Dutse International Airport at 2pm.