TheCable

The International Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation, has asked the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and state pilgrim welfare boards to start the preparation for the 2024 exercise early to avoid delay.

In a statement on Saturday, Ibrahim Mohammed, national coordinator of the organisation, said early preparation would enable Nigerian pilgrims to enjoy better airline slots, allotment of tents in Mina, and accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.

According to Mohammed, the recently released 2024 calendar by the Saudi ministry of hajj and umrah indicates the need to commence preparation to meet up with the new arrangements.

Mohammed said the Saudi authorities have directed all countries to commence arrangements for the next hajj four months after the current exercise.

“With this announcement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has indirectly rendered the usual one-year-at-time registration of pilgrims ineffective because the Ministry of Hajj has now made it operationally mandatory for countries to complete all arrangements for the next Hajj four months after the current Hajj,” the statement reads.

“The pay-as-you-go system of pilgrim registration is operationally obsolete and NAHCON and states Muslim pilgrims welfare boards should immediately commence the registration for the 2024 Hajj and roll out a plan of action.”

He said the Saudi ministry of hajj had given September 16 for the commencement of preparatory meetings, while service packages will be made available on November 4.

Mohammed said Saudi authorities have hinted that accommodation arrangements in Makkah and Madinah will be completed on February 25 while the issuance of visas will begin on March 1 and end on April 29, 2024.

“Going by the challenges of service delivery experienced this year, IHR said it is apparent that the one-year Hajj rolling plan being practised in Nigeria is no longer compatible with the operational plan rolled out by the ministry of Hajj last week. Hence, the need to begin pilgrims’ registration,” he added.

“Preliminary discussion with Saudi-based service providers on accommodation in both Makkah and Madinah, transport syndicate services and feeding arrangements need to commence along with the return airlift process.

“Nigeria as the fifth largest global hajj contingent and highest delegation in Africa, cannot operate “pay today, travel tomorrow” hajj arrangements, when its counterparts operate five to six years of hajj rolling plans. There is a need to start here and now.”