2021 Hajj: Niger State begins Covid-19 vaccinations for intending pilgrims

Niger State pilgrim’s welfare board in North Central Nigeria has commenced the covid 19 vaccination for intending pilgrims from the state.

Staff of the Pilgrims welfare board were first vaccinated during the flag off exercise by the Executive Secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims welfare board, Alhaji Umar Makun Lapai,at the premises of the agency in Minna the Capital of Niger state on Tuesday.

The executive Director operations of the Niger state Pilgrims board, Ustaz Attahiru Dukku, mentioned to Voice of Nigeria, that the covid19 vaccination for the intending pilgrims  was a directives by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prerequisite for the 2021 hajj operations.

Ustaz Dukku further stated that 3500 projected intending pilgrims across the 25 Local government areas in the state are to be vaccinated as one of the conditions to participate for the 2021 Hajjj rituals in Saudi Arabia.

“ After the staff of the Pilgrims board had been vaccinated the vaccination team proceeded  to  other  Local Government areas of the state “.said Attahiru

Attahiru added that The Executive secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims welfare board, Alhaji Umar Makun Lapai, has  advised  Local government pilgrims welfare officers to give utmost support to the Covid 19 vaccination team, and to strictly maintained laid down rules of the Commission ,by making sure every intending pilgrim from their local government has been vaccinated.

Chanchaga local government area  with thr highest number of intending pilgrims of over Two hundred intending pilgrims in Niger State so far,  is  the first local government are to be attended by the covid 19 vaccination team.

Alhaji Abu Sufyan, the Pilgrims welfare Officer of the local government mentioned mentioned that intending pilgrims from the local government have been coming out to the center in their numbers .

” So far we have not had any challenge with them, as there has been  adequate enlightenment in that regards”.added Abu Sufyan

Report shows that the 2021 Hajj exercise is expected to take place by the month of July, 2021

Intending Pilgrims from Nigeria and other countries could not be able to perform the 2020 Hajj in Saudi Arabia due to the outbreak of the covid 19 pandemic the world over.

The Saudi Arabian authorities  however , directed participating countries to vaccinate intending pilgrims with covid 19 vaccination as part of the conditions for the 2021 hajj exercise.