The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON says it is doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria gets five thousand additional Hajj slots for the 2022 Hajj operations from Saudi Arabia.
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NAHCON Commissioner for Operations Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa, who made the statement in Madina, Saudi Arabia said that the Commission’s Chairman Alhaji Zikirullah Hassan had earlier met with Stakeholders in Saudi Arabia requesting for additional slots.
“I am in Saudi Arabia specifically to speak about this additional slots which we had requested for earlier before the start of the Hajj 2022 operations.
“I immediately went straight to Riyadh where I met with the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yahaya Lawal who told me about the efforts he had also been making on the issue.
“However, they have assured Nigeria that the request will be granted since we had written formally to them about it.
“We need to get the slots so that it will be useful to the tour operators and other intending pilgrims that are waiting for it and other stakeholders in various States of the Federation.
“We did not envisage additional slots because of the time the Saudi authorities approved that Hajj will be conducted this year and also because of the cost of the Hajj,” he said.
Alhaji Hardawa said his visit was to expedite the action and ensure that it benefits tour operators and Nigerians in general that are waiting to fulfil their religious obligations this year.
