The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Hajj Commission

  • Kogi gets 717 slots for 2018 Hajj

    Kogi gets 717 slots for 2018 Hajj

    The Kogi Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board says 717 slots had been allocated to the state for this year’s hajj by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

    The Executive Chairman of the board, Sheikh Lukman Abdullah, who disclosed this on Monday in Lokoja, said that the figure was far less than the 838 slots allocated to the state in 2017.

    Abdullah spoke during  a courtesy call on the Chairman of the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ), Mr Adeiza Momoh Jimoh.

    He, however,  said that the board was making efforts to get additional slots, adding that  preparations for the 2018 hajj had commenced.

    Abdallah, who said  that the greatest challenge facing the board and intending pilgrims was time, noted  that all intending pilgrims had been given March 31 deadline to complete the payment of N1.5 million hajj fare.

    The Chairman reiterated that the green color e-passport, national identity card and medical report are compulsory  for all intending pilgrims.

    He said that accommodation  had been secured near the sacred mosques in Mecca and Medinah, adding that efforts were in the pipeline to enhance the welfare of pilgrims before, during and after the hajj.

    In his remarks,  Jimoh assured the board of support,  especially in the area of sensitisation of  pilgrims and members of the public.

    He urged  the board to always carry along the media in all its activities, adding that  more slots should  be allocated  to Muslim journalists.

    NAN

  • Excitements as Nigerian pilgrims visit Mount Arafat

    Excitements as Nigerian pilgrims visit Mount Arafat

    •Death toll now seven

    Over 80,000 Nigerians on pilgrimage to Mecca arrived the plains of mount Arafat in the early hours of Wednesday to perform the most important rites for the 2017 Hajj.

    Substantial number of Nigerian pilgrims began the movement to the plains after the combination of Zuhr and Asr prayers.

    Confirming this development, an elated Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Barrister Abdullah Muhammad Mukhtar said the near hitch free exercise so far recorded was as a result of careful planning on the part of NAHCON as a regulator working with other stakeholders.

    He was however quick to add the Commission has been able to contain some of the challenges that encumbered the Hajj operations with the help of Saudi authorities.

    Specifically, he said some of the tents allocated to Nigerians were not spacious enough to provide the necessary comfort just as he observed that there have been a few hitches in the feeding arrangements. But thankfully he said most of these challenges have been addressed.

    On the number deceased Nigerians, the NAHCON boss said the death toll so far is seven in all.

    Meanwhile, NAHCON has established a dedicated helpline for Nigerian pilgrims in need of emergency respond care as follows: 92008251.

    Mukhtar enjoined pilgrims to make use of the helpline as it is been manned by NAHCON officials for 24 hours.

  • Over 20,000 cards await collection in Kano – NIMC

    Over 20,000 cards await collection in Kano – NIMC

    Hajiya Bilkisu Dalhat, the Kano state Office Coordinator, National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), says over 20,000 cards are yet to be collected by their owners in the state.

    Dalhat disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

    “We are appealing to those who have already registered to come and collect their cards.

    “We have sent text messages and even called some of those that their cards are ready, although, some we were not able to reach maybe because they have changed their lines.

    “Therefore, we are calling on them to come and explain to us so that they can collect their cards”, the coordinator said.

    She said that the commission in collaboration with the state government established over 60 registration centres across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

    According to her, the need for the establishment of the centres arises due to the low turnout by the people in the state for enrolment.

    “Since the commencement of the registration by NIMC in 2012, we registered not more than 7.5 per cent of the people in the state in spite of the fact that Kano state has the highest population in Nigeria.

    “Therefore, we collaborate with the Kano State Government to establish the centres in order to give the citizens easy access to register”, she said.

    She expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of the people toward the exercise.

    “Some of our people when they come to register, they hardly exercise patience and join the queue for the registration, but rather go away when the queue is long.

    “Therefore, I am appealing to them to kindly come and be enrolled to avoid any further challenges that they may face in the future because they did not registered.

    “Just of recent, so many intending pilgrims rushed to us to be enrolled because the National Hajj Commission has made it mandatory for every intending pilgrim to present their number before travelling,” she said.

    Dalhat further advised the people to ensure that they obtain the card irrespective of their ethnicity or religion, adding that even people with deformity were expected to register as there is provision for them.

  • Hajj: Lagos gets awards as best performing state in 2016

    Hajj: Lagos gets awards as best performing state in 2016

    The Lagos State Government on Friday received seven awards from the National Hajj Commission for being the best performing state in the federation at the 2016 Hajj in Mecca.

    Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, South-West Commissioner in the commission, presented the awards to Gov. Akinwumi Ambode at the State House in Ikeja.

    Adeyemi commended the state government for its support, welfare packages, accommodation, feeding, coordination, education and enlightenment programmes for its pilgrims.

    “If a Christian Governor can support another religious body like this, then he must be honoured and appreciated so that he can do more.

    “In 2016 when we went for Hajj in Saudi-Arabia, at Arafat, Lagos stood out in terms of their e-tracking device, coordination of pilgrims airlift, feeding, pilgrims’ education.

    “Whenever any Nigerian misses his or her way , the Lagos tent was usually the first point of call to trace such person. Gov. Ambode should be commended for making us proud in Saudi-Arabia, ” he said.

    Adeyemi urged other state governments to emulate Lagos State and improve the welfare of their pilgrims at Hajj.

    Receiving the awards on behalf of Ambode, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, thanked the National Hajj Commission for honouring Lagos State.

    “For us as a government, we are committed in making life comfortable for the people of Lagos State and we will not relent in our efforts.

    “I am pledging that the best support will be provided to our people in the next Hajj, ” she said.

    In his remarks, Dr Abdul-Lateef Abdul- Hakeem, state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs also commended the Governor for making Lagos a home for all religious bodies.

    According to him, the inclusive government policy of Gov. Ambode contributes to the peace, tranquility and development enjoyed in the state. (NAN)

  • Hajj sponsorship an important social, religious responsibility – Official

    Hajj sponsorship an important social, religious responsibility – Official

    Alhaji Abass Egwuu, Executive Chairman, Ebonyi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, says the state government considers hajj sponsorship as an important social responsibility.

    Egwuu said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that Gov. David Umahi was supporting the board to discharge its duties effectively.

    According to him, hajj sponsorship is part of a social responsibility of every sensitive government.

    He urged other state governors to take hajj sponsorship serious to enhance public confidence in governance.

    Egwuu said that preparations for the 2017 hajj operation had reached advanced stage, adding that the board had secured decent accommodation for its pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

    “Gov. Umahi has made the job very easy for me since I was appointed. He has consistently sponsored the board, paid allowances to board members and also sponsored private pilgrimage,” he said.

    Egwuu added that the board had organised several orientation programmes for intending pilgrims in the state.

    He said that pilgrims enlightenment and education was ongoing in Yoruba, Hausa and the indigenous Muslim communities in various mosques across the state.

    “Apart from that we have a centre which is known as the Islamic Centre located at Ebonyi South Senatorial District.

    “So, what we normally do is to encourage our Muslim brothers and sisters to go to the mosque for education.

    “However, we do enlightenment through radio and television programmes to ensure wider coverage,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Hajj Commission had allocated 97 hajj slots to Ebonyi and approved N1.52 million as 2017 hajj fare for the state.

  • Sultan urges stakeholders to ensure hitch-free 2013 Hajj

    Sultan urges stakeholders to ensure hitch-free 2013 Hajj

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday, urged the National Hajj Commission (NHC) and other stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free 2013 Hajj.

    Abubakar made the call at the opening session of a two-day 2012 Hajj Post-mortem Conference in Abuja.

    The Sultan said: “We can say that the 2012 Hajj operation was a success in spite of the issues that affected our sisters.

    “The issue of Muharram for our female pilgrims and some other issues should be taken care of early enough to avoid a recurrence of the confusion that happened in the 2012 Hajj,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the conference.

    The NHC Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Bello, reiterated the commission’s commitment to guarantee a hitch-free hajj in 2013.

    “As a commission, we are ready to carry out our duties to ensure that every pilgrim goes to Hajj and returns safely.

    “We expect the pilgrims to be of good behaviour while in the Holy Land.

    The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Saleh Muhammed, in his remarks, advised the Federal Government to be wary of those calling for the scrapping of the commission.

    He said: “The primary function of every government is the welfare of her citizens, which includes spiritual welfare.’’