The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON and Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have signed a memorandum of understanding to solidify a seamless 2024 Hajj exercise.
The signing ceremony which took place in Jeddah had in attendance key representatives from Nigeria led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, NAHCON acting Chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi, Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Bello Hussaini Kazaure, senior officers from the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia and NAHCON, the host country’s contingent was led by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Taufiq Al-Rabiah.
This was contained in a statement signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs Hajiya Fatima Usara.
According to the statement, the two ministers held a brief discussion prior to the signing of the MOU, where Nigeria requested for a lasting solution to the shortage of tents in Mina and pressed for more favourable terms for Nigerian Carriers during Hajj airlifts.
The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Rabiah, acknowledged the challenge of space in Mina and assured that efforts are being made to maximise the use of the available two million square meters for the over two million pilgrims performing Hajj annually.
He expressed the Ministry’s support for all measures aimed at giving pilgrims the best services.
Dr. Al-Rabiah, highlighted the importance of early monetary deposits for reserving preferred spaces in Masha’ir, which he said aligned with the Ministry’s updated policy of first-come, first-served to ensure fairness in space allocation.
He therefore urged NAHCON to take advantage of the new policy to secure choice spaces in Masha’ir.
The Nigerian team also invited the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Rabiah to visit Nigeria and accepted to visit soon.
Dominica Nwabufo
