Hajj: Forum wants FG’s intervention on new Saudi policies

Stakeholders in hajj and umrah services have urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene to resolve the challenges facing intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage especially on the biometric data capturing and other new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabia Government. They gave the charge in Abuja at the 25th stakeholders’ conference themed: “Hajj Operations […]

Stakeholders in hajj and umrah services have urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene to resolve the challenges facing intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage especially on the biometric data capturing and other new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabia Government.

They gave the charge in Abuja at the 25th stakeholders’ conference themed: “Hajj Operations in Nigeria: The Challenge of Domestic and Saudi Hajj Policies” organised by ITEC Consultancy Services.

The Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Borno State, Engr. Mohammad Kois, said since about half of pilgrims are generally non-first timers, the first timers should be given utmost priority in the biometrics.

Mallam Adamu Aminu, a consultant with ITEC Services, said part of the government intervention is to ensure that Nigerian experts were employed in the biometric and other activities of the hajj exercise.

He said his recent experience in Kano where some people going for Umrah (lesser hajj) were attended to by Indian nationals administering the biometric capturing and displaying lack of competency in the exercise was disappointing.

The Director of ITEC Mallam Abdulwakeel A. Abdulwahab, said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has major roles to play in fast-tracking the establishment of Hajj Savings Scheme and Hajj Co-operative groups among other initiatives to enable intending pilgrims especially the low-income earners save enough to perform the pilgrimage.

He lamented reports of low turn-out of intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj and call for urgent Government intervention in the biometric and other challenges of the exercise.

“In order to have meaningful and effective contributions to Hajj Operations in the world, there is need for periodic conferences on hajj development at local and regional, West Africa and African levels, to enable Muslims in other countries exchange ideas and also to address some of Saudi Arabia non-pilgrim friendly policies,” Abdulwahab said.

The Director, Baynakum Family Counseling Centre, Abuja, Dr. Abdulfattah Adeyemi, in his keynote address, said the success of hajj exercise in Nigeria was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders which must be sustained and improved upon.