SAUDI ARABIA RETAINS NIGERIA’S 95,000 SLOTS FOR 2025 HAJJ
…Urges NAHCON to stick with timeline
Saudi Arabia have retained the 95,000 slots granted to Nigeria in the last two years as the country’s quota for the coming 2025 Hajj and urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to be committed to the timeline for next year’s spiritual exercise.
This, among others, was the outcome of first 2025 Hajj virtual preparatory meeting held between NAHCON and officials of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah last Thursday.
It was agreed that out of the 95,000 slots allocated to Nigeria, 75,000 slots be allocated to various states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as government quota, while the remaining 20,000 goes to the private sector.
NAHCON’s Commissioner Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance (PPMF), Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq led the commission’s delegation, including the Commissioner for Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi, Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics and Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal and other senior management staff of the commission to the virtual space meeting.
On the part of Saudi Arabia were officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Immigration Service and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Speaking at the online meeting, Prince Abdulrazaq commended the Saudi’s ministry for the successful 2024 Hajj operations and informed the Saudi delegates that NAHCON had commenced preparations for the 2025 Hajj.
The commissioner, however, raised some challenges that Nigerian pilgrims faced during this year’s exercise to include shortage of toilets in Mina, the meals in Mina, which he said were prepared devoid of indigenous taste for the pilgrims.
Other challenges, according to him, were problems of transportation from Muzdalifa to Mina; issues with tents allocation despite the fact that Nigeria paid for extra space to avoid shortage, among others.
Prince Abdulrazaq also drew the Saudis’ attention to the harassment some pilgrims faced due to inactive NUSUK identity cards which was no fault of theirs but that of the issuing authorities.
He, therefore, called on Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to look into these issues to avoid reoccurrence during the 2025 edition with a view to ensuring that pilgrims, particularly Nigerians get value for their money.
I’m his response, the Director General, Office of the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, who doubles as the Chief Consultant in Charge of Offices of the Pilgrims’ Affair, Dr Badr Assulamy, solicited NAHCON’s full support to make 2025 Hajj a success.
Assulamy then laid out a timeline of activities as build up to the 2025 Hajj and pleaded with NAHCON to commit itself to deadlines.
He said that early payment of Hajj fares, completion of contractual agreements with Saudi-based service providers, issuing of license to air carriers and other stakeholders must be concluded before issuing of visa would be possible.
According to him, issuance of visa would commence on February, 19, 2025 and encouraged NAHCON to finish issuing visas before the deadline date.
Dr Assulamy further urged the Commission to exercise patience on issues that occurred in Mina, advising NAHCON to collaborate with service providers to select best location in Mina for next year’s exercise if Hajj fares are remitted early.
He then revealed that part of the guidelines for the 2025 Hajj are that all pilgrims should be vaccinated with the stipulated vaccines, including yellow fever, Covid-19, meningitis, among others.
The Saudi official said that it must be indicated during registration if an intending pilgrim was suffering from other ailments such as Cancer, Diabetes.
On her part, Ms Rawan Alassaf disclosed that awareness platform created by the Ministry was one of the most important developments for 2025 Hajj.
The platform, according to her, captured pilgrims’ experience as well as interactive learning system in Makkah and Madina.
She, therefore, invited NAHCON to assign a communication officer to liaise with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on developing specific contents.
This is to assist the Nigerian pilgrims in performing their Hajj rites, adding that there already exist enlightenment materials translated into 16 languages, which are accessible for distribution in hard copies as well.
