Intending Pilgrims in Niger State,to the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia, have been admonished to hasten their payment to meet the December ending deadline given by the Kingdom of Saudi Authority.
This was made known by the chairman of Arewa New Agenda (ANA),Senator Ahmed Abubakar in a one day sensitization program held at the conference Hall of Islamic Education Trust (IET) in Minna Monday.
The Arewa New Agenda (ANA) an non governmental organization (NGO) was saddled with the responsibilities to embark on aggressive sensitization to create an awareness on the position of Saudi Arabia Authority of the reason behind the December deadline.
According to the Senator, the Saudi Authority allocated only 97,000 slots to the National Hajj Commission (NAHCO) out of which Nigerians are yet to meet reasonable numbers of the allocated seat " which informed the decisions of the sensitization for Nigerians particularly the North to hasten up to meet the deadline"
He disclosed that the Saudi Authority will close the visa Portal by the end of December adding that the intending Pilgrims for the year 2024 should endeavors to ensure the completion their payment so as to get their visa as scheduled.
He pointed out that the increased in the 2024 Hajjl fares was attributed to the exchange ratle of dollars stressing that the hike in the 2024 Hajj fares should not be seen as a deliberate attempt to deny Nigerians from performing the most sacred Islamic oblgation.
Senator Ahmed therefore appealed to the intending Pilgrims particularly Pilgrims from the Northern states to as a matter of obligation of urgency pay up their fares to avoid the delay in the issuance of their visas by the Saudi Authority.
Also speaking, the Director General Niger State Bureau For Religious Affairs Dr. Umar Farooq Abdullahi commended the Arewa New Agenda for embarking on the sensitization program in Niger state, at this point in time.
He described the sensitization program as timely and crucial assuring that the state Bureau For Religious Affairs under his leadership will step it down across the twenty-five local government area of the state
He noted that the Bureau For Religious Affairs has an obligation as part of its mandate will collaborate with the state Pilgrims welfare Board will take their message across the twenty-five local government area of the state to sensitize intending Pilgrims in Niger State on the needs for them to hasten their payment before the deadline.
