UNILAG AD
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, August 19, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
Nigerian pilgrims in Arafat

Nigerian pilgrims in Arafat

Why we introduced Hajj savings scheme – NAHCON Chairman

bySani Tukur
July 5, 2018
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

The chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abdullahi Mohammed, says the commission decided to introduce a Hajj saving scheme in order to ensure proper planning for both Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Mohammed, speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a pre-Hajj conference taking place at the National Mosque Abuja, said the conference had agreed for the commission to start the scheme for the next five years.

To this end, he said all state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board had been directed to register intending pilgrims who wish to perform Hajj in the next five years.

He said Nigerians are free to “start with any amount, no matter how small”.

He said interested citizens should just approach the states and make a deposit after which the state officials “ should acknowledge, give him receipt and indicate the year that he wants to participate in the Hajj.”

Mr Mohammed said already, at the federal level, appropriate submissions had been made to the government and “it is under consideration to approve the legal framework and the composition of the board of trustees that will manage that savings scheme”.

The NAHCON chairman said all the deposits will be put into the Nigerian economy and the pilgrims will get a portion of the profit as well as the government which regulates the activities of the Hajj.

He said the commission adopted the measure with a view to bringing to an end, “the annual payment of Hajj “where we are not certain of the number and we cannot give Saudi Arabia the accurate number of people that will be performing Hajj well ahead of time”.

He also said the decision was based on the policy of Saudi Arabia government which now plans to round up all Hajj preparations at least one month before the commencement of airlift.

TEXEM Advert

He said Saudi took the decision to enable them plan properly since they would know who is coming into their country and to be in a position to make adequate preparations for all the pilgrims from all over the world.

“The best way for Nigeria to address that challenge of annual registration is to allow a window for a long term Hajj saving scheme and this, Insha Allah, will commence immediately

“ So I am pleased to inform members of the public that anybody who is interested in performing Hajj in the next five years should approach any state pilgrims welfare board, agency or commission and deposit his money and he can chose the timeline that he will continue to contribute until such a time that his year of intention has reached and he will top up if there is any difference and if in the process, his money that has been invested has yielded enough profit for him not to augment anything, then his profit will be used to balance up whatever is needed for him to go to the Hajj,” he said.

Part of the reforms introduced by Saudi Arabia is for pilgrims biometric data to be captured in their home countries. In the past, biometrics are captured on arrival in Saudi Arabia which normally takes a long time.

However, intending pilgrims from Nigeria have complained of the limited number of centres set up by for the exercise as many are expected to travel long distances to get captured.

Mr Mohammed on Thursday said the meeting has also addressed the issue of biometrics exercise.

He said the Consul General in Kano, where visas from some states within the zone are to be issued has assured that the biometric equipment will be deployed to all the states.

He said as for pilgrims who will process their visa in Abuja, “we are yet to finalise with the embassy on the modalities, but I want to believe it will not be far from that of Kano Consulate”.

NAHCON chairman also sad another highlight of the meeting is consolidating the concept of a National Medical Team. He said all medical personnel, drugs and equipment will operate under one umbrella.

“ No state is allowed to operate any clinic without authorisation of the commission as well as the Saudi government.

“During our movement to Muna and Arafat, the medical personnel will be distributed to all the states of the federation, where they speak the major language of that state, so that they will attend to the need of the pilgrims,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also said as part of the preparations for Hajj 2018, all the various committees that have to do with the Hajj activities will have a “robust training” on Saturday.

“Our target and goal is to make sure that pilgrims get value for their money. We have emphasised that, by ensuring that the states pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions as well as the licensed tour operators fill the evaluation template for services being developed by the commission as at when due, so that we will be able to monitor and ensure that where services are not rendered, payment is not affected, and where services are poorly rendered, then commensurate payment should be made and appropriate refund will continue to be made to the pilgrims who are shortchanged.”

The NAHCON chairman also announced that “God willing on the 21st of this month, the airlift will commence, and our target is to commence the airlift with pilgrims from Kogi State, who will be departing from Abuja and MAX Air will be the one to operate that flight Insha Allah”.

He said all agencies involved in Hajj are attending the meeting. He said the meeting reviewed Hajj 2017 operations, which he said “ was generally applauded” in terms of the quality of service and the behaviour of the pilgrims.

He assured that “the 2018 Hajj will be an improved version of 2017”.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

11 universities share N84 million to conduct mineral research, development

Next Post

Air Peace inaugurates first all-female flights to Abuja, Owerri

Sani Tukur

Sani Tukur

More News

Nigeria Police officers

Police arrest four for allegedly using nudes to blackmail men

August 18, 2022
NCDMB headquarters

NCDMB, NGO unite to return teenage mothers to school, skills training programme

August 18, 2022
Ademola Adeleke

Osun: Court dismisses suit challenging Ademola Adeleke`s candidature in governorship poll

August 18, 2022
Electricity Pole

Discos restore power as electricity workers suspend strike

August 18, 2022
Ngozika Ekwelum, a former African Boxing Union (ABU) Heavyweight Champion.jpg (1)

Ekwelum, ex-African heavyweight champion down with cancer, begs for help

August 18, 2022
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

2023: Kwankwaso appoints campaign spokespersons

August 18, 2022
Leave Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • PT Hausa
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria