Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organization that monitors and reports hajj and umrah activities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia has called on NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies, Licensed Private Hajj operators to immediately begin mass enlightenment campaigns to educate 2024 intending Nigerian hajj pilgrims on the short time allowed for registrations.
A statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed on Monday said “Nigerian intending pilgrims should be made to understand that the era of registering for hajj few days to the commencement of airlift is over for those who want to be part of 2024 hajji.
“This call becomes imperative because of hundreds of inquiries we received daily from Nigerian Muslims who want to know whether hajj registration has commenced in their various States.
“This shows that most States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards did not undertake massive enlightenment to inform the general public on dangers of further delay.
As at today, there are less than 140 days to the opening of visa portal for 2024 Hajj intending pilgrims and less than 250 days to the closing of issuance of Visa. Specifically, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will begin the issuance of visa on the 1st of March 2024 and it will be closed on the 29th of April 2024.
“Consequently, Hajj missions including NAHCON have been directed by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to conclude all accommodation and Masha’er contracts latest by February 25th, 2024.
“More importantly, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has subjected the provision of tent space in Mina to early conclusion of arrangements by hajj participating countries.
IHR said there is no way NAHCON or states Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards could pen down any service contracts with service providers without knowing the exact numbers or near to perfect approximate numbers of registered pilgrims. This further shows how interdependent ‘timely registrations will have on the hajj 2024 arrangements generally.
Despite the obvious cramped and constricted time allowed for registrations, NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims welfare Boards failed to adequately and aggressively embark on enlightenment campaigns to impress it on intending pilgrims to begin registration so as not to miss out during the upcoming hajj.
“IHR said it extremely disturbing that only few states have so far publicly announced the commencement of hajj registration with little or no emphasis on the short period of time available for registration”.