2022 Hajj: FCT Holds Orientation For Intending Pilgrims

2022 Hajj: FCT Holds Orientation For Intending Pilgrims

Hundreds of Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they observe social distancing to protect themselves against the coronavirus, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 29, 2020.During the first rites of hajj, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between two hills where Ibrahim's wife, Hagar, is believed to have run as she searched for water for her dying son before God brought forth a well that runs to this day. 

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has intensified its preparation for the airlift of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj, with the second phase of education and orientation exercise for its intending pilgrims.

The director of the board, Mallam Muhammad Danmallam, in a statement signed by the board’s spokesperson, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, said the board has mapped out a strategy to conduct hitch-free exercise by preparing the intending pilgrims to attain an acceptable Hajj despite the shortest time available to prepare.

Danmallam explained that the intending pilgrims would be enlightened on the entire hajj operation on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of this month at the Permanent hajj transit camp, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja from 8 a.m.

He said with 1,537-seat allocation for this year’s hajj, the board has streamlined its preparation to ensure that intending pilgrims from the territory get the best services to compare to non-in line with the aspiration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

Danmallam further said that the board has already mobilised renowned Islamic scholars for the exercise to educate the intending pilgrims on the Hajj rites as well as new policies introduced for this year’s hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The director advised intending pilgrims from the territory to participate in all programmes organised by the board especially with the new policies and guidelines introduced for hajj this year by Saudi Arabia after the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the board would not relent in its effort to ensure that the intending pilgrims from the territory attain an acceptable hajj by complying with the rules and regulations put in place by relevant authorities for the exercise.

Danmallam disclosed that the board had already commenced the process of transferring the deposits of those who had already opened their personal Hajj Saving Account with Ja’iz Bank as directed by NAHCON.

He, therefore, warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to submit their account details or submit their passport to do so to enable the board commence the process of their travel documents as soon as a clear signal on the exercise is received from the relevant authority.

Danmallam reiterated the board’s principle of first-come-first-served in selecting those that would participate in this year’s hajj exercise.

He advised intending pilgrims, particularly the first-timers, to take advantage of the exercises and enhance their Islamic knowledge of Hajj rites guidance toward the attainment of acceptable Hajj.