Hajj quota lifting will end seats racketeering – Civil society

The lifting of the 20 percent reduction on hajj seats allocation by Saudi authorities will end racketeering in the system in Nigeria, Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society has said. Saudi authorities had in 2013 imposed a 20 percent cut in the quota for foreign pilgrims, and a 50 percent cut for domestic pilgrims, to […]

The lifting of the 20 percent reduction on hajj seats allocation by Saudi authorities will end racketeering in the system in Nigeria, Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society has said.

Saudi authorities had in 2013 imposed a 20 percent cut in the quota for foreign pilgrims, and a 50 percent cut for domestic pilgrims, to ensure safety during the expansion of the Grand Mosque.

A statement issued by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed and Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Mahmoud on Sunday said Nigerian Muslims will have more opportunity to secure hajj seats to fulfill their religious obligations.

This development will also “reduce the pressure inherent in the efforts to secure hajj seats through the back door, and close avenue of possible hajj seat racketeering in Nigeria.”

The civil society commended the “Saudi ministry of hajj to return the 20 percent cut in Hajj quota in the last five years.”

The statement said the reduction greatly affected the chance of Muslims who want to fulfill their religious obligations, thereby slashing the Nigerian hajj quota from 95,000 to 76, 000.

Independent Hajj Reporters however advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to give priority to states with higher demands, those that meet its recently capacity verifications exercise and first timers.

It also urged “NAHCON, SMPWBs and tour operators to double their efforts in anticipation of the new increase in numbers of pilgrims.”