Every intending pilgrim to this year’s Hajj must be vaccinated before he or she might be able to perform the exercise.
Briefing Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers (APWOs) from local government areas of the state on the outcome of their meeting at Abuja, the Executive Secretary, Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Umar Makun Lapai, explained that all intending pilgrims must receive both first and second dose of COVID-19 vaccines as well as the booster jab.
He said the purpose of the interface with APWOs was to inform them about the number of Hajj seats allocated to the state and what was allocated to each local government area.
Alhaji Makun Lapai therefore enjoined the local government pilgrims officers to sensitise all the intending pilgrims to be prepared to pay additional fare because of likelihood of increase in this year’s Hajj fare to about N2.5 million.
He however warned them not to commence collection of fare yet until they received instructions to that effect.
In addition, the executive secretary informed the APOs of the need for intending pilgrims to have their BVN and NIN ready to be used where applicable.
In their respective responses, some of the area pilgrims officers commended the efforts of the executive secretary and appreciated the explanations, promising to go back to their respective areas to educate the intending pilgrims on the new development.
Signed
Hassan D. Idris
CIO
