The authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration has fixed December 27th as the deadline for registration of pilgrims with the Board as preparations are in top gear for the 2024 Pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Director of FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Abubakar Adamu Evuti stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji on a sensitisation tour of the traditional institutions and other stakeholders on the deadline for the registration of intending pilgrims for next hajj exercise.
Evuti disclosed that the Board had embarked on the sensitisation of stakeholders to educate them about the new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabian government and relevant agencies in respect of the 2024 Hajj exercise.
He also stated that the Board has since commenced the registration of prospective pilgrims and their requested that residents of the territory who have the intention of performing hajj through the board should ensure early deposit of the minimum amount before the deadline.
Evuti called on the relevant stakeholders on hajj to assist the Board in ensuring that the message gets to the grassroots to ensure that residents were not caught unaware as the policies on the entire hajj exercise have been changed by Saudi Arabia.
He also called on the Muslim community in the territory and relevant stakeholders in the hajj operation to collaborate with the board in ensuring a hitch-free exercise next year.
The Director disclosed that prospective Intending Pilgrims are to deposit a bank draft of a minimum of Four Million Five Hundred Naira (N4, 500,000.00) only to book their seat for the exercise across the six area councils and the head office of the Board located at the central business district, Abuja.
He said that the Board has resolved to redouble its effort to enhance services to the registered Intending Pilgrims through the new strategies introduced for the forthcoming Hajj exercise
Earlier, the Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, council of Chiefs and the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa pledged to support the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in sensitizing Intending Pilgrims in early registration for next year’s hajj.
Alhaji Baba Yunusa pledged when he received the management staff of the Board.
The traditional leader stressed that the traditional institution is the closest body to the grassroots and stands a better opportunity to mobilise the intending pilgrims to participate in the exercise.
The Ona of Abaji emphasised the need for the Board and other government agencies to engage them in disseminating information on policies that are aimed at enhancing the lives of the citizens due to their closeness to the people at the grassroots and are ready at all times to contribute their quarter in implementing government policies.
He therefore called on the residents of the territory to ensure their compliance in registering for next year’s hajj early before the deadline set by the authority to enable them to discharge their religious obligation.
Dominica Nwabufo
