The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has introduced a strategy to reduce the number of days Nigerian pilgrims spend in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage.
Executive Chairman Malam Jalal Arabi revealed this during an interview with journalists on Monday after arriving at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
Arabi noted that the commission successfully transported all Nigerian pilgrims directly to Madinah.
“With Allah’s help, if we achieve this goal, we aim to reduce the number of days Nigerians spend performing the pilgrimage for the first time. It’s a promising start, and by God’s grace, we will see positive results,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the presidency and the National Assembly for their substantial support in ensuring the success of the ongoing Hajj operations.
“This day will be remembered in history—not necessarily the first time ever, but the first time in a long time—that 72 hours before the closure of Saudi airspace, all our pilgrims are here.
“At least those in our cluster, and we hope the tour operators will also meet this target,” he added.
Arabi stated that the commission had made comprehensive arrangements for the feeding and medical care of pilgrims during the core Hajj rites period, which begins on June 13.
“We are optimistic that the principle of Tafweej (grouping of pilgrims) will facilitate easier movement and identification of pilgrims.
“Moreover, we have introduced a new system for monitoring and distributing food, which is crucial and fundamental.
“This is one of the reasons we won’t stay in Madinah. My team and I are heading to Makkah to assess the situation based on the reports we have received.”
Arabi also mentioned that the commission would summon all service providers who were found lacking to address the issues and ensure better performance. (NAN)
