The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has directed all State Muslim pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to start immediate preparations for Hajj 2022.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, who gave the directive at a meeting with the Chairmen of the State Boards in Abuja the nation’s capital said that the Saudi Arabian authorities has not yet released an official statement regarding performing Hajj this year.
“Is there a total green light as we speak? no, but as expected of any responsible people, we are just getting prepared hoping that by God’s grace the Hajj 2022 will begin in due course.
”Immediately a day is chosen that will be the commencement of the Hajj operation for 2022. Our hope is that, it will be very soon and I am sure that is the hope of everybody. What it now means is that we must all leave here to get prepared for 2022 Hajj,” Hassan charged.
The Chairman said with the recent communication from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Commission there is hope that the 2022 hajj may take place.
“There is already an engagement between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia in respect of the 2022 Hajj, though there are other details which I will like to keep for now. But engagements and communication has started between the two nations in respect of Hajj 2022. We have reasons to believe that the worst moment is already gone. For the first time in about two years, we have received an official communication from Saudi Arabia. The official communication is intended to kick start usually what begins the Hajj Operation, which is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
NAHCON also directed the states agencies to migrate all pilgrims’ deposits to the Hajj Saving Scheme in Jaiz Bank in order to harmonise and streamline the process of Hajj 2022.
“The Hajj Saving Scheme would play a very prominent role in the enrollment of intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj,“ he said.
Presidential Approval
The Chairman, Forum of Chairmen of the 36 states and FCT pilgrims boards, Malam Nasir Dan-Mallam said NAHCON had informed them that it had received Presidential Approval to commence Hajj Saving Scheme.
“So, from now onward, any Hajj that is going to take place in Nigeria will be under the platform of a Hajj Saving Scheme.
“That is what we have been informed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NAHCON.
“And we have no choice than to abide by it as law abiding Nigerians. We are formation of the law, so whatever the President has given assent to we will just key into it.
Hajj Savings Scheme is a voluntary contribution by intending pilgrims to make it easier for Muslims in Nigeria to perform Hajj. The scheme is a collaboration between Jaiz Bank Plc and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
Lateefah Ibrahim
