TheCable

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says pilgrims will now be accommodated for only five days in the holy city.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mousa Ubandawaki, the commission’s deputy director of information and publication, said the new accommodation policy will take effect on June 8.

Ubandawaki said the new policy was introduced following complaints of overcrowding of Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah.

He said the commission has been commended for introducing the new policy, adding that it will not back down on its decision.

“A new set of rules which will make it mandatory for pilgrims in Madinah to be moved to Makkah after five days stay in the second holiest city will take effect from Thursday, June 8, 2023,” NAN quoted Ubandawaki as saying.

“It is important to note that for the first time in a long time, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is giving 100 per cent Nigerian pilgrims the opportunity to visit Madinah in the first phase or before Arafat.

“However, to achieve this and in order to avert sanctions against the country if there are pilgrims overcrowding in Madinah, the commission had to adopt the new policy, after wide consultations and exhaustive deliberation.

“However, if the policy must be sustained, then the number of days our pilgrims must stay in Madinah has to be reduced. As it is well known that hajj is fast changing with new developments and realities.

“If the commission must achieve the objectives of making the 2023 hajj seamless and comfortable for our pilgrims, it is important to synchronise the transportation of pilgrims to the Holy land with the bed space available.

“So that the commission won’t be penalised for transporting more pilgrims into Madinah than the available accommodation or be forced to take the pilgrims to another area which are well below the standard of the current Markaziyya.”

He said the decision was tough but necessary, adding that it is in the best interest of Nigerian pilgrims.

“So that we won’t be at the receiving end of Saudi laws and at the same time it was considered more utilitarian for Nigerian pilgrims to spend five days in Madinah,” he added.

“Thereby allowing more pilgrims to travel to Madinah in the first phase from where they would be moved to Makkah to continue with their Hajj rites, than to delay their departure for want of bed spaces in the Prophet’s city.

“We, therefore, crave for the understanding and support of the pilgrims, hajj officials and indeed stakeholders for the successful implementation of this policy. We should not give up the gains we have so far achieved.”