February 20, (THEWILL) – The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has warned that any of the state pilgrims’ boards that fail to remit fifty percent deposit of its total slots allocated for the 2023 hajj by February 28, shall have its slots reduced.
A statement issued by the Commission regretted that the much-expected remittance was not forthcoming as agreed.
The statement signed by its Spokesperson, Moussa Ubandawaki, stated that “remittance to the Commission in this past week has been abysmal and payment to service providers in Saudi Arabia remains the biggest assurance that Nigeria will participate in this year’s hajj.”
The statement also implored agencies of the State Government with oversight on pilgrimage, not to renege on the allocation principle of 40-60 percent as agreed for allocating seats to intending pilgrims.
It appealed to concerned State Governments to “respect the agreement on the distribution of hajj quota on the basis of 60% for government pilgrims and 40% for the Hajj Savings Scheme subscribers.”
The statement reiterated that of the total slots of 75,000 allocated to Nigeria, 40 percent of the slots, which amounts to 30,000 seats, shall be allocated to subscribers of the Hajj Savings Scheme.
Moussa Ubandawaki expressed concern that most state pilgrims welfare boards were mounting pressure on subscribers to either withdraw or migrate their deposits from the scheme to the state pilgrims’ agencies to be registered for the 2023 hajj.
NAHCON urged all the State Governments indulging in such uncharitable acts to desist henceforth from such malicious conduct and intimidation of innocent and potential pilgrims.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
