The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 2024 hajj

  • Nigeria, Saudi Arabia ratify 2024 Hajj agreement 

    Nigeria, Saudi Arabia ratify 2024 Hajj agreement 

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has assured intending pilgrims to this year’s hajj of improved arrangements.

    Tuggar also said that the agreement between the government of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj operations has been ratified. 

    The signing took place on Sunday, January 7, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, the special assistant on Media and communications strategy

    to the minister.

    Tuggar, in a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Taofiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah, “also affirmed that the 2024 Hajj Operations will be guided by a new culture of precision that will ensure that pre-Hajj, Hajj and Umrah activities are carried out on time.”

    The statement further added: “The bilateral meeting also touched on the areas of airlifting pilgrims, Nigerian government-endorsed airlines, Hajj accommodations, and the feeding of pilgrims.

    Read Also: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia sign pact on 2024 Hajj

    “We discussed ways of improving services of Hajj and Umra on both sides; this is a process that is always being reviewed, and from what was discussed, there will be improvements in this year’s Hajj. Nigeria contributes the 4th largest number of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and the 5th largest when it comes to Umrah.”

    He noted that the arrangements the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had put in place to improve the 2023 Hajj operations and ensure the safety and comfort of Nigerian pilgrims. 

    He stated: “In his reaction, AlRabiah said the Saudi authorities will review all issues raised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and assured the Nigerian delegation of the cooperation of the Saudi Hajj authorities to work closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure a seamless 2024 Hajj and Umrah operation.

    “The ratification of the Hajj 2024 MoU was on the margins of the 3rd Edition of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition, 2024; the Minister also used the occasion to formally extend an invitation to the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah to visit Nigeria.”

    The Nigerian delegation to the ratification and 2024 Hajj and Umrah Conference had officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), including the commission’s Chairman/CEO, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, Nigeria’s acting Ambassador in Saudi Arabia

    Ambassador Mahmud Lele, and Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Bello Hussaini Kazaure

  • Nigerians to depart for 2024 hajj through 16 airports

    Nigerians to depart for 2024 hajj through 16 airports

    The Nigerian delegation to next years’ hajj would depart through 16 airports, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said yesterday.

    FAAN’s Hajj Committee led by Director of Airport Operations, Captain Mukhtar Yusuf Muye, made this known during a visit to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    Captain Yusuf intimated the commission that the FAAN has commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj about two months ago so that they can achieve a hitch free operation.

    He assured that the exercise would be complete before the commencement of Hajj airlift in the 16 departure airports across the country.

    Read Also; Diri seeks lawmakers’ approval for N480.9b 2024 budget

    He, however, urged the Commission to persuade the tour operators companies to comply with the arrangements of airlifting their pilgrims through the International Terminals instead of the Hajj Terminal as that denies the authority of valuable revenue that they supposed to generate for the purpose of providing the necessary infrastructural facilities at the airports.

    He assured the commission of FAAN’s commitments to discharge its duties diligently so that the pilgrims can enjoy a hitch- free airlift.

    Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Malam Jalal Arabi charged FAAN to as a matter of urgency put in place necessary facilities at the country’s Hajj departure zone to ensure a seamless airlift operation.

    He said that the provision of necessary navigation equipment and facilities at Hajj departure centres across the country would facilitate a seamless Hajj Airlift.

    “You are a formidable partner in Hajj operation. Though, there are certain considerations put in place during Hajj airlift and we expect you to tell us the state of the various Airports used for Hajj Airlift,” he said.

    According to him, the committee should be time conscious as they would have limited time to carry out their assignments, going by the time line set by Saudi Arabia for all nation to conclude all Hajj arrangements early.