By Ibrahim Ramalan Abuja
Th e Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad has said that 25 per cent of this year’s hajj offi cials would sacrifi ce their hajj rites while in the Holy Land in order to attend to the needs of the pilgrims. Th e chairman, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the 2017 Hajj operation in Abuja yesterday, also said that so far, 20,000 travel visas had been released by the Saudi Arabian embassy in Nigeria and, “in a matter of days, I believe that the embassy will make available all the visas.” Muhammad pointed out that despite this year’s unprecedented increase in the Hajj fares, well over 60,000 pilgrims, under state welfare boards and 19, 000 pilgrims under private tour operators, had so far completed their payments and already queued for airlift.
He assured the pilgrims of his commission’s commitment towards making this year’s operation a seamless one, adding that all mechanisms had been put in place to ensure that all the pilgrims’ needed were being taken care of. Th e Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the FCT Minister, Mal. Muhammad Musa Bello, called on the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the country in the Holy Land. He added that while on the journey, the pilgrims should pray for Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari for God to grant him good health and for the country to have economic prosperity. To the Hajj offi cials, the Ag President charged them to offi ciate with good conduct and fear of God. “If you operate well and serve the pilgrims well, God will reward you,” Osinbajo stated. On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’adAbubakar, who is also the President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Aff airs, urged the entire pilgrims to do everything in moderation. “Avoid groups that you don’t know, eat very well, don’t starve yourself because you want to come back with extra money. Also, avoid excessive luggage,” Sultan, represented by the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Sulaiman Adamu, stated.
