TheCable

The federal capital territory (FCT) Muslim pilgrims welfare board says the first phase of the education and orientation exercise for intending 2023 hajj pilgrims will hold on March 18 and 19. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Muhammad Aliyu, the board’s spokesperson, said Islamic scholars have been mobilised for the exercise scheduled to hold at the FCT permanent hajj camp in Basan Jiwa.

Aliyu said the exercise is to acquaint the intending pilgrims with the hajj rites and new policies introduced by the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

He urged all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their international passports to do so to enable the board to process their travel documents.

He added that those who deposited less than the minimum N2.5 million benchmark have been asked to complete the payment to book a seat for the 2023 hajj.

The spokesperson said those who made deposits for last year’s hajj but missed the exercise should report to the board with the original receipt of payment to declare their interest to participate in this year’s hajj or get a refund.

Aliyu further said only intending pilgrims who deposited up to the minimum threshold of N2.5 million and above would be shortlisted for this year’s hajj from the FCT.