As part of pre airlift activities this years Hajj, Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board conducted a sensitization meeting at the Arafat Mosque in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo North as departure preparations intensify.
The meeting, chaired by the board’s chairman, Sheikh Ibrahim Oyarekhua addressed crucial details and requirements for the pilgrimage, especially regarding the Hajj process in Saudi Arabia and the need for all intending pilgrims to ensure strict compliance of the rules as directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) which is the apex body in Nigeria responsible for handling Hajj matters.
During the meeting, Oyarekhua emphasized the importance of timely action, stating that Saudi Arabia would open its e-portal for pilgrim details on the same day, March 3, 2024.
He further highlighted that all countries would commence uploading their pilgrims’ information to the portal starting from the following day, March 4, 2024″.
However, he noted that despite full payment, there were uncertainties that could affect the performance of Hajj this year which are already being handled by NAHCON.
Regarding documentation, he stressed the importance of submitting all required forms, medical reports, and passports by the specified deadline of Friday 8th of March 2024. Failure to do so could lead to disqualification from participating in the Hajj pilgrimage as these documents are critical to process thier documentations.
However, the board assured attendees that they would address any issues or concerns promptly to prevent disqualification.
The chairman also emphasized the critical nature of adhering to all regulations, citing the usual limited timeframe provided by the Saudi Arabia Hajj Authority for countries to upload pilgrims’ information.
“Failure to utilize this opportunity could result in exclusion from the pilgrimage” he noted.
Additionally, Sheikh Oyarekhua highlighted the comparatively low cost of the Nigerian Hajj fare, underscoring the significance of adhering to the outlined procedures.
According to him while comparing Hajj fare for different countries of the world, “Ghana Hajj fare without BTA amounts to 7.6 million naira, while Niger’s is 6.8 million naira”
As a gesture, uniforms were distributed to those who had completed full payment, marking a significant step forward in the preparation process.
With the meeting concluded, intending pilgrims were urged to comply with all requirements and deadlines to ensure their eligibility for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
