Nigeria gets 95,000 pilgrims quota reel our requirements for 2024 hajj – Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s ministry of Hajj has announced a 95,000 allocation of Hajj seats to Nigeria in the 2024 Hajj.
This is just as Nigeria is expected to finalise all arrangements and negotiation with Service Providers including the catering, accommodation and transportation within the next 120 days.
The Hajj announcement was made known via a virtual meeting held between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah yesterday marking the official commencement of the 2024 hajj.
Requirements from the Saudis include that NAHCON will submit the lists of medical and other officials to the Kingdom very early as the Kingdom has plans to work with the two bodies very closely.
It is also to ensure that only air carriers with at least two aircraft on its fleet and a Back- up are appointed or allowed to participate in the 2024 Hajj operation.
Leading the the Saudi team, Dr Badr Mohammed Al- Somi urged the Commission to strive to meet up with the timeline in order to enable the Ministry make adequate plan and also avoid the experience and incidents witnessed in this year’s Hajj.
“We want all Hajj Missions to be proactive in meeting our time frame, so that we won’t allow what happened previously and also to give the missions sufficient time to examine the services before pilgrims’ arrival.”
Al-Talaheen promised that the refund sought by the Commission was being worked on and that as soon as the result of its investigative Committee is released, it would be acted upon accordingly.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan called on the Saudi Authorities to expedite action on the refund of the feeding and tent services not provided in the Mashair.
He further reiterated the need for the Kingdom to disengage from the provision of feeding service in the Masha’ir and allow the country to take over Muna and Arafat to afford the Pilgrims opportunities to enjoy delicacies they were used to at home.
The Chairman has sought for the support and assistance of the Ministry in securing the refund paid to the General Authority on Saudi Aviation (GACA) on behalf of the Nigerian Carriers in 2019.
