The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board has appealed to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to reconsider the stands of states Pilgrims board over the issue of the new Hajj savings Scheme.
This was stated by the Executive Secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare board, Alhaji Makun Lapai, during a courtesy call to the Director General of the state’s Bureau for religious affairs.
Alhaji Makun Lapai who commended the National Hajj Commission’s recent initiative of hajj savings scheme, said the template being proposed by the Commission has remained the bone of contention by States Hajj operators.
He mentioned that most Pilgrims board across the Country are not totally against the new savings scheme initiatives, but that they are not very comfortable with some terms enshrined in the new scheme which are not favourable to them.
He however called on stakeholders across the country to persuade the National Hajj Commission on carrying along State pilgrims welfare boards in the new arrangement to achieve a successful hajj operations.
“State pilgrims welfare boards should physically be part of the operations from commencement to the end for proper coordination,” Alhaji Makun Lapai said.
The Director General,Niger State Bureau of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Umar Faruk, Who commended the agitation spearheaded by the state pilgrims board over the New hajj savings scheme initiative, said the agitation was a step in the right direction, as it was also a move towards having a hitch free Hajj activities.
The Hajj Saving Scheme, according to NAHCON, was designed in collaboration with a commercial bank in Nigeria, to ease the cost of fare by intending pilgrims from Nigeria to Holy Land.
VON
