Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto has announced a monetary donation of N500,000 to each of the 138 families of the 2015 hajj stampede from state.
A breakdown of the number of the victims showed that 114 pilgrims from Sokoto were confirmed dead, 22 are still missing while two are injured and receiving treatment.
A statement issued by Tambuwal’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the Governor announced the donation while receiving the report of the 2015 hajj committee in Sokoto Tuesday.
Tambuwal said even though the government cannot compensate the families for the loss of their loved ones, the gesture was in fulfilment of the promise he made when the tragedy occurred in September this year.
The governor said the families have endured pains since the incident, and commended them for their patience and prayers.
He pledged his government will continue to put in place measures that will enhance the hajj exercise by boosting safety and logistics of pilgrims.
In his remarks, leader of the state delegation to this year’s hajj exercise and Deputy Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, said pilgrims from the state exhibited good conduct while in the Holy Land.
He appealed to the government to sustain the state feeding programme for pilgrims at transit camps at home and abroad, and announced that Kware and Gwadabawa local government areas have received special awards for maintaining good sanitation in Saudi Arabia.
