By Mustapha Adamu, Kano
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS) will remove many Muslims who join it out of poverty.
The commission had recently launched the scheme, which allows intending pilgrims to be saving money in a bank in order to perform Hajj.
Speaking on Sunday, at a press conference, held at the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, ahead of the launch of the programme in Kano, the Coordinator of the scheme, Dr Aliyu Tanko said it would also provide employment opportunities.
According to him, the scheme will enable every Muslim, rich or low-income-earner the opportunity to go to Hajj without difficulty.
He also stated that intending pilgrims willing to go to Hajj through the HSS could go via tour operators because they are included in the programme, adding that they operators must get the statutory allocation of seats given to them every year.
“You know, it is a standing order that 95 percent of Hajj seats are allocated to NAHCON every year. Tour operators get get 20% out of it.
” So, anybody willing to go to Hajj using the HSS but through the tour operators can do so. The scheme is easy and effective,” he said.
He continued, “this programme will help every Muslim, both rich and low-income-earner to go to Hajj with ease.
” It is economically effective as it will provide job opportunity and bring out depositors out of poverty,” Tanko said.
He explained that intending pilgrims could join the programme through Internet, adding that the money would be saved at Ja’iz and UBA banks.
The coordinator assured safety of the money, adding that the deposits are going to be utilised using interest-free banking system.
Tanko also stated that the Hajj commission would open registration offices in various local government area in the country to ease the procedure
