By Lamara Garba
The Kano State Government has commenced the provision of daily transportation services for its pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, fulfilling a key welfare promise made to facilitate their movement to the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The initiative, which took effect immediately after the Day of Arafat, is aimed at easing the transportation challenges faced by pilgrims and enabling them to conveniently observe the five daily prayers at Masjid Al-Haram.
Speaking at a press briefing in Makkah, the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle, disclosed that the state government had concluded all necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth transportation of pilgrims between their hotels and the Holy Mosque.
He explained that the intervention was part of the administration’s commitment to enhancing the welfare and spiritual experience of Kano pilgrims throughout their stay in the Holy Land.
According to him, dedicated buses have been deployed to convey pilgrims to and from Masjid Al-Haram on a daily basis, allowing them to perform their religious obligations with greater ease and comfort.
“The transportation arrangement is designed to reduce the stress associated with movement to the Grand Mosque, especially for elderly pilgrims and those who may find it difficult to walk long distances. We urge all pilgrims to make proper use of the facilities and handle them responsibly,” Matawalle stated.
In fulfillment of the government’s promise, the Amirul Hajj for the 2026 Hajj exercise and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, officially flagged off the buses designated for the exercise.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Amirul Hajj said the transportation support was introduced to ensure that pilgrims have unhindered access to the Holy Mosque, where they can devote more time to prayers, supplications, and acts of worship.
He noted that the gesture reflects the determination of the Kano State Government under Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to prioritize the comfort and welfare of pilgrims while enabling them to derive maximum spiritual benefits from the sacred pilgrimage.
A total of eight buses, each with a carrying capacity of over fifty passengers, have been deployed for the operation. The buses have been strategically assigned to various accommodation centres housing Kano pilgrims to ensure efficiency and timely movement.
Many pilgrims who spoke on the development expressed appreciation to the state government, describing the initiative as timely and beneficial, particularly in view of the long distances between some of the hotels and the Grand Mosque.
The pilgrims said the transportation support would significantly reduce fatigue and allow them to participate more actively in congregational prayers and other religious activities at Masjid Al-Haram.
Meanwhile, the Amirul Hajj, Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, and his Deputy, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, also supervised the distribution and dispatch of pilgrims’ luggage in preparation for their return journey to Nigeria.
The Amirul Hajj advised pilgrims to comply strictly with the approved luggage regulations and avoid carrying items exceeding the stipulated weight limits.
He explained that each pilgrim is entitled to two pieces of luggage weighing up to 23 kilograms each, bringing the total allowable baggage to 46 kilograms per pilgrim.
The transportation initiative and other welfare interventions introduced during the Hajj exercise have further demonstrated the Kano State Government’s resolve to ensure a comfortable, successful, and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage for all pilgrims from the state.
