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Tag: Hajj 2024

  • 2024 HAJJ: FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board puts February 12 deadline for fare payment

    2024 HAJJ: FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board puts February 12 deadline for fare payment

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board has put February 12 as deadline for payment for 2024 HAJJ pilgrimage and has informed all intending Pilgrims in the FCT who have made their initial deposit to pay up their balance.

    The Director FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abubakar Adamu-Evuti, stated that for those that made initial deposit of four million five hundred thousand naira still have the balance of one hundred and ninety nine thousands naira balance to make full deposit of four million, six hundred and ninety nine thousands naira to complete the 2025 hajj fare.

    Adamu-Evuti said that there is a window of four more days for those who have interest to perform this year’s HAJJ to do so within this period by paying up their balanced for those yet to do so and also for those that have not yet made any payment.

    According to the Pilgrims Board, so far over two thousand intending pilgrims have so far paid for their fare out of four thousand, three hundred and sixty five FCT allocations by the National HAJJ commission gathered that the airlifting of intending pilgrims will start on the 19 May, while the orientation exercise ends in April.

    Adamu- Evuti said, “You are well aware that The Nation Hajj Commission, September last year flagged off the 2024 Hajj Season. Just like other states we were directed to commence the season’s activity and we announced it to the public.”

    “The National Hajj Commission had pegged the initial deposit at 4.5 million naira. We told the intended pilgrims to go ahead to go to their banks and raise a draft in favour of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to the 4.5million Naira that was pegged by the National Hajj Commission.”

    “The 6 Area Councils will have our representatives there, so whichever area council you want to raise the bank draft you can, because of proximity and convenience.”

    “You can raise your bank draft in the Headquarters if you wish to raise your draft, pay and you’d be issued your receipt.”

    “We do not collect cash in the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, all payments are done in bank drafts, we issue receipt then we’d issue a form immediately.”

    ” We expect you to go home with the form and fill it. When you are submitting you submit it, with photographs and valid international passport, accompanied with a NIN slip with has a valid National Identity Number.”

    “The National Hajj Commission had given the FCT an allocation of 4368 pilgrims. The process has begun since and we are now in February. Between that time to date we have registered close to 2500 pilgrims already.”

    “This season we have a challenge of timeline because the registration had always been open ended up till day of take off but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has come up with a new timeline which indicates that all registrations, collection of data and payment by pilgrims must close at least 45 days before Arafat.”

    ” In view of this, NAHCON has issued a statement that all registrations, collection of data and Hajj fares for the 2024 by pilgrims should be closed by February 12th.”

    “By 1st of March, issuance of Visa will begin and By April 29th issuance of Visa will also be closed. By May 9th or May 11th, as the case may be, the first batch from Nigerians to the Holy land will take off. We will adhere to these timelines strictly, considering the way and manner Saudi Arabia adhere to all the rules and regulations coming with that.”

    The director warned that with the new regulations from Saudi Arabia, there will be no room for late registration, adding that the sensitization exercise which is ongoing would be on hold only during the Ramadan period.

    On accomodations, director FCT Muslim welfare board said with massive support received from FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and minister of state Mariya Muhammad, the board have secured good accomodations in the city of Tashir following their pre-visit to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.

    He also urged all intending pilgrims to disclose their health status, as people with health challenge are not allowed for the spiritual exercise likewise the pregnant women.

    Adamu-Evuti called on the faithful who like to sponsor their elderly family members to do so.

  • Hajj 2024: CSO Express Worry Over Slow Pace Of Preparations, Uncertainty

    Hajj 2024: CSO Express Worry Over Slow Pace Of Preparations, Uncertainty

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano

    Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has expressed worry over the apparent slow pace with which Nigerian authorities are moving as regards preparations for Hajj 2024.

    The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) says the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has made it clear to all Hajj participating countries even before Hajj 2023 was rounded up that preparations for Hajj 2024 have begun.

    The Ministry also informed most countries of their Hajj quota and the new policies in place for next year’s Hajj. Specifically, the Ministry said all Hajj formalities are to be concluded at least 45 days before Hajj 2024 because the Visa issuance portal would be closed by that date.

    This, according to IHR in a statement Monday signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, means that Nigeria has about 4 months from now to conclude making all necessary arrangements such as collection and deposit of pilgrim’s fares, signing of MOU and engagement with service providers both at home and in Saudi Arabia.

    “While we acknowledge the recent advice by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for pilgrims to save N4.5 million as a deposit, we believe that is not enough.

    “Currently, states have less than 120 days to register 2024 intending pilgrims and we are aware of the uncertainties around how much will be the equivalent of dollar components in the hajj rate template.

    “In addition, we expect that all states should have announced the commencement of registration of intending pilgrims while NAHCON on its part moves with lightning speed to negotiate how to get the foreign exchange component benchmark of the forthcoming pilgrimage.

    Anything short of that is simply risking Nigerians’ participation in Hajj 2024,” IHR said. The CSO also said it expects both NAHCON and the states to have vigorously begun an enlightenment campaign regarding the existing FX policy and how it affects the Hajj fare.

    States Pilgrims boards must as a matter of urgent embark on state-wide publicity on 2024 registration as every other arrangement is tied to the number of pilgrims that will be registered by the states.

    “As far as we are concerned, both NAHCON and the states have no option but to close ranks and work in harmony with regards to the Hajj Saving scheme because it is the best avenue available for pilgrims to save gradually and travel for Hajj whenever their savings are enough to enable them to secure a slot The recent short and shortened hajj calendar made this option imperative”.

    IHR commended NAHCON for setting up a committee to search for new service providers in Saudi Arabia, the CSO however, noted that the commission should weigh the possible implications of assigning about 95,000 pilgrims to new service providers who have no previous experience in serving Nigerian Pilgrims.

    More importantly, it said, all registered Mutawiff in the Kingdom have their allotted pilgrims “It is like moving from known challenges to unknown but certain headaches,” IHR said.

    IHR added that both NAHCON and the States Muslim Pilgrims Boards should expeditiously embark on a nationwide campaign targeting Muslims who intend to perform the 2024 hajj to pay their deposits as soon as possible because any further delay endangers their participation in the 2024 Hajj.

  • FCTA prepares ahead for Hajj 2024 – Perm. Sec

    FCTA prepares ahead for Hajj 2024 – Perm. Sec

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Capital Development Administration, FCDA, said that preparation has started ahead for the 2024 Hajj operation to ensure Muslim pilgrims enjoy a hitch free exercise.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Olusade Adesola, gave this hint, when he received the Report of the FCT Ministerial Team on 2023 (1444 A.H) Muslim Pilgrimage (HAJJ) Exercise from its Chairman, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, in his office.

    Adesola said that early arrangements will go a long way in reducing some hitches experienced during the previous exercise.

    Adesola also lauded the contributions of the Ministerial Team to the success of the 2023 spiritual exercise and the report turned in; saying it will serve as a guide for subsequent exercises.

    He said, “On behalf of the FCT Management, I appreciate your selfless sacrifice during this Hajj operation. There were many situations that stretched our capacity, but your intervention helped us to successfully manage the situation.”

    “When the arrangements were not synchronized last year, there were many challenges, but when we put your Team in place for support, we saw the success we achieved and interestingly, the pilgrims appreciated your efforts,” he noted.

    The Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board returned with the last batch and briefed me on what transpired there and expressed support for the services that you rendered. ”
    My greatest joy is that under me, you (Director, Human Resource Management) led this delegation, and you are obviously leaving good footprints for us.”

    Adesola specifically thanked the Director of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mallam Abubakar Adamu Evuti, for his corporation and dynamism.

    He disclosed that the FCT Administration will look into the report and the recommendations therein and forward a memo to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the issues that are under his purview that may be critically considered.

    He further noted that for the success of next year’s Hajj operation, there is a need to consider an Air Carrier with the capacity to
    for the FCT contingent.

    Chairman of the Ministerial Team, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, recalled that the 5-Member Team was constituted to assist the Board carryout smooth 2023 hajj operation.

    The Chairman said that upon the inauguration, it began work by reviewing the challenges the Board had, and the Permanent Secretary’s intervention with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) proved impactful.

    The report contained the entire exercise, from onshore to offshore, including all activities, ranging from the intending pilgrims’ orientation to the last batch of airlift of the pilgrims back to Nigeria, Mohamed stated .

    “The report encompasses activities surrounding “arrival in Medina, activities in Medina and the movement of pilgrims to Mecca. Also, our activities in Mecca, our activities in the holy place are all detailed in the report. They have been summarily written for your perusal,” the Chairman emphasized.

    Muhammad also commended the Director, MPWB, Abubakar Evuti for a successful hajj exercise.

    He called for the need to improve activities of the Board, in areas surrounding intervention with the National Hajj Commission, with a view to assisting in the operations of the Board, particularly in the areas of allocation to the FCT by the federal vote and processing of travelling documents.

    Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the FCT Administration has also constituted a similar Ministerial Team for the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board to ensure hitch free Christian pilgrimage exercise to Israel.