The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has begun the process of securing visas for its 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims from the territory.
The Director of the board, Abubakar Evuti, made this known at a news conference on the activities of the organization and preparation for this year’s hajj, on Wednesday in Abuja.
“So far a total of 3651 intending pilgrims have completed payment of their hajj fare and the board has since continued with the process of securing their visa.
” And as soon as the portal is open, we shall commence the application and printing of their visa for the journey.”
He disclosed that the board had concluded arrangements for the screening of intending pilgrims to ascertain their health status and capability of performing the Hajj.
According to him, the exercise will commence on Friday, May 5, 2023 with intending pilgrims from Bwari Area Council and Headquarters, follow by those from Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils on Saturday, May 6.
“While those who registered through Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area councils, as well as those who registered under the Hajj Savings Scheme, will be screened on Sunday, May 7, 2023 respectively.”
He called on other intending pilgrims who are yet to complete their payments to do so on or before Monday, May 8.
He said that the board had already secured befitting accommodations for its intending pilgrims around the Hafair area in Makkah that are a short distance from the holy Masjid (Haram).
This, according to him, is within the range approved by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Evuti stated that arrangements with caterers and all other service providers in Saudi Arabia have been signed and sealed.
He revealed that one of the innovations introduced by the board for this year’s hajj was to allow intending pilgrims to choose the flight they intend to travel with.
This, according to him, will curtail the challenge of no-show experienced by the board in 2022 during the transportation to Saudi Arabia.
He warned that any pilgrim who refuses to show up for his or her flight would be sanctioned by the board and may even result to forfeiting the trip this year.
“I would like to use this medium to reaffirm the readiness of the board and in deed the FCT administration in ensuring that intending pilgrims from the territory get the best services ever in Hajj exercises in line with the best global practice in the Hajj Industry.
“Necessary measures have been put in place to record more successes in the operation even though each hajj exercise come with its own peculiarities.”
He commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, the Minister of State FCT, Ramatu Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola and the Director of Human Resources FCTA, Malam Muhammad Bashir, for their unflinching support to the board, at all times.
He also expressed appreciation to the management and staff of the board who have been putting in their best to ensure the success of hajj operations in accordance with the mandate of organising hitch-free hajj over the years.
PIAK
