Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organization, has called for mass enlightenment campaign to persuade intending pilgrims to register to enable Nigeria to utilize its 2017 Hajj seat allocation, saying, Nigeria risks losing its allocations quota in subsequent years if it refuses to fill up its 2017 Hajj seats quota.
According to the group, “Nigeria risks losing 95,000 hajj quotas over slow pace of pilgrim’s registration”.
A statement by the group’s National Coordinator and its publicity secretary Abubakar Mahmoud, called on NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies, Hajj Service Providers, the media and Hajj NGOs to embark on grass root campaign to encourage Nigerian intending to go for pilgrim to expedite their hajj registration in order to avoid the consequences of Nigeria not utilizing its quota for the year.
The statement reads: “Nigeria’s seats quota currently stands at 95,000; states pilgrims have 75,000 and 20, 000 for Tour Operators. Of the 75, 000 allocated to states, only 51, 000 has been utilized leaving 19, 000 seats unsold.
“The slow response of pilgrims is being attributed to the hope of possible government’s intervention of granting lower exchange rate to reduce the 2017 Hajj fare.
“The consequences of not utilizing our Hajj seats quota this year are many: Saudi Arabia Hajj authority may reduce next year hajj seats quota to the exact number of this year’s hajj seats sold.
“The status of Nigeria as the country with the fourth largest pilgrims in the world and first in Africa will be quashed. The privileges enjoyed by our pilgrims before owing to our status will be taken away by other countries.
“Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Iran and Bangladesh are always on the waiting list of countries demanding for more seats. If Nigeria fails to make use of its allocated slots, chances are that it will be grabbed by any of them,” the statement pointed out.
However, airlift of Nigeria pilgrims to this year hajj has been scheduled to commence on July 30, 2017.
