The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has disclosed plans to meet with Nigerian aviation authorities to review Saudi aviation guidelines for the 2024 Hajj operations.
Speaking on Freedom Radio in Abuja, the Commissioner Operations of the Commission, Alh. Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa, the meeting was to map out strategy for engaging airlines that would be involved in the coming Hajj operation.
Alh. Hardawa also stated that the commission’s officials would be leaving for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia any moment to engage stakeholders in the to ensure adequate space, security, proper feeding and other logistics for Nigerian pilgrims in the holy land during the Hajj rites.
He stated stressed that the commission is determined to ensure that feeding of pilgrims at the Mushã’ir is reverted to state pilgrims’ boards, agencies and commissions, as was the practice in the past.
while acknowledging hiccups in last year’s Hajj, particularly at Muna, the commissioner said NAHCON would do everything humanly possible to ensure that pilgrims got good services for their money in all aspects possible during next year’s hajj.
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He further reiterated the need for state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and commissions to ensure that intending pilgrims pay the N4.5m deposit for the hajj exercise as agreed before the fifth of next month.
“It is imperative to beat the deadline, as the Commission is determined to ensure that it worked within the Saudi timeframe of all arrangements for next year’s Hajj operation. From our engagement so far with the Saudi authorities, it appears it is not going to be business as usual, hence the need for intending pilgrims and their state handlers to hasten in meeting up all guidelines within the stipulated time limits.”
He expressed fears that this time around, there might not be waivers and other favours of extension of time by the Saudis, a privilege Nigeria had heavily relied on and was notoriously noted for in the past.
