News
2021 Hajj: NAHCON urges intending pilgrims to be prayerful
Following the announcement by the authorities of Saudi Arabia that the 2021 Hajj would take place, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has urged Nigerian intending pilgrims to continue exercising patience and remaining prayerful for a positive final decision on this year’s pilgrimage.
This is even as the commission expressed optimism that foreign nationals would be allowed to perform the holy pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia had restricted 2020 Hajj to the residents of the foremost Arab country due to the COVID-19 pandemic which killed thousands of people across the world.
In a statement issued and signed by the Head, Public Affairs of NAHCON, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, the commission said Nigeria would not be excluded from the pilgrimage once final decision is taken since it is not among the countries barred from travelling to Saudi Arabia
The commission noted that “although no mention was made on the admissibility of foreign pilgrims for the Hajj season in the brief piece of information released by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday 9thMay, it holds high optimism that the custodians of the two Haramain will open their doors for international pilgrimage this year.”
“The news from Saudi Arabia that 2021 Hajj will hold bears glad tidings for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON and indeed the entire Muslim world.
“As we await further communication on specific measures and organisational plans for the 2021 Hajj, NAHCON urges Nigerian intending pilgrims to continue exercising patience while remaining prayerful for positive outcome.
“If there are indeed plans for international pilgrims to participate, NAHCON is optimistic that Nigerian Hajj hopefuls will have slots even with conditions.
“This is because thus far, Nigerians have been part of those admitted for Umrah and Nigeria has not been among countries barred from traveling to Saudi Arabia,” the statement stressed.
NAHCON leadership, however, reassured the general public, particularly registered intending pilgrims that in its tradition, the commission will adhere strictly to those measures and guidelines that will be stipulated by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
It therefore charged other Hajj stakeholders and hopefuls to be ready to comply in order to ease the process for Nigeria and Saudi Arabia such that it will pave the way for a successful Hajj operation despite time constraints.
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng