Board gives 4-day ultimatum to intending female pilgrims in Kano

(Nigeria) The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board on Sunday issued a four-day ultimatum to intending female pilgrims who had not undergone pregnancy test to do so or forfeit their Hajj seats.

The Public Relations Officer of the board, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, gave the ultimatum in an interview with NAN in Kano.

Badamasi said any intending female pilgrims, who failed to undergo the test, would not perform the 2014 pilgrimage.

``There are about 60 female pilgrims who for one reason or the other did not attend the test at the hajj camp. The board has given them four days from August 25 to August 28 to go to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for the test.

``They have to pay a token fee of N1,000 now because the one we conducted at the hajj camp was free,’’ he said.

He said the warning became necessary to avoid embarrassment because the board had taken all measures to stop pregnant women from performing the 2014 hajj.

NAN recalls that the board had directed the intending pilgrims to attend medical and pregnancy tests at the hajj camp.

While male intending pilgrims were directed to attend medical test, the female counterpart were directed to undergo both medical and pregnancy tests.