Alhaji Umar Leme, the Executive Secretary of Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the state government released N288.5 million to sponsor about 166 intending pilgrims for the 2016 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Leme said the gesture of Governor Darius Ishaku administration was to assist the less privileged Muslims to perform one of the major pillars of Islam.
Leme who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Jalingo, commended Ishaku for his support in ensuring a successful hajj operation.
He said 1,300 pilgrims from Taraba State would perform the hajj, adding that about N1.1 billion had already been paid to the National Hajj Commission as fees for the intending pilgrims.
Leme said 500 additional seats were allocated to the state, adding that people were not forthcoming to pay.
According to him, about 1,080 passports have so far been sent to the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Kano and preparations were at advanced stage of completion.
Leme said the board had secured befitting accommodation for all the pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah, while new caterers have been engaged.
He warned pilgrims against contravening Saudi Arabian laws.
NAN.