NAHCON commences Hajj operation as advance team leaves for Saudi Arabia

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By Olugbenga Salami

Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, on Monday dispatched the first batch advance team to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj, signaling the commencement of the holy pilgrimage.

Those on the advance team include medical personnel, house managers, feeding staff, Makkah and Madinah reception team members, among others.

Speaking at a farewell ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Hassan tasked members of the advance team to set the pace for the successful accomplishment of this year’s Hajj

He said with the exercise, “Hajj operation has commenced and the rest of Nigeria’s Hajj pilgrims are coming to meet them soon.”

The Chairman had at a departure briefing of the entire advance team in the NAHCON Hajj House headquarter on Saturday, reminded the staff that it is time to put into practice all the training they have received.

He reminded them that their major responsibility is to go over all the agreements signed with service providers to ensure that the details are fully implemented.

Hassan directed them to be on ground awaiting hitch-free arrival of pilgrims and to treat them with utmost respect as guests of the Almighty.

He also instructed heads of the different committees to pay a familiarization visit to the office of the Adillah Company in Madinah to introduce themselves as NAHCON’s representatives to enable the Adillah to identify who to contact when necessary.

Meanwhile, all pilgrims that paid for the 2022 Hajj through the Hajj Savings Scheme, and have completed their payments, have been instructed to visit the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards which they selected at the time of enrollment for necessary preparations.

According to a statement by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, they are to carry along their international passports, COVID-19 vaccine certificate and yellow card if they have been inoculated already.

Similarly, the commission informed intending pilgrims that the announced Hajj fare of maximum N2, 496,815.29 is inclusive of their $800 Basic Travel Allowance, BTA.