NAHCON assistant director, information and publications, Mousa Ubandawaki has said that Prospective Nigerian pilgrims seeking to perform the 2023 Hajj can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has restored 95,000 Hajj slots to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) ahead of next year’s Holy pilgrimage.
He said the news was announced by the director-General in charge of Hajj Missions at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Bahauddeen bin Yusuf Alwani, at a preparatory meeting for Hajj Season 1444AH through a video conference with the Chairman of NAHCON Zukrullah Kunle Hassan.
Thousands of intending Nigerian pilgrims had missed out on the 2022 hajj as only 43,000 Hajj seats were allocated to the country for the 2022 pilgrimage exercise, a far cry from the 95,000 Hajj slots the nation previously enjoyed, a disruption which was caused by the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020.
In both 2020 and 2021 Nigerians and other international pilgrims were banned from the exercise.
Other guidelines released for the 2023 Hajj by the Ministry included the removal of age barrier or limit and cancellation of PCR Test for the Hajj.
According to Ubandawaki, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also granted Nigeria the right of choice of package for pilgrims services from the Mutawwiffs of African Non-Arab countries, the company responsible for the Tent, Feeding and Transportation arrangements at the Mashair.
In addition, the Ministry also stated that henceforth any payment to service providers must be through the e-track or e-wallet platforms as the Kingdom will not take responsibilities for payment outside the two platforms.
The Ministry also announced that accommodation agreements are to be concluded by the 10th of February (Shaaban) and others by 24th January (Rajab). Leadership
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