By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Saudi Arabian Government has warned that it will shut down its visa website in the first week of May to all intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage.
This is to allow for a successful planning and hitch free hajj exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh revealed this in Ilorin while featuring on a Radio Kwara personality interview programme “Playing Host”.
According to him, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Government on the need to adhere strictly by all the rules and regulations guiding this year’s exercise and its calendar.
Jimoh said towards this end, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed the pilgrim boards of all the thirty-six States of the federation including that of the FCT, Abuja to abide by the hajj calendar and commence in earnest the 2018 hajj exercise.
He disclosed that the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board had since November last year, begun preparations for the 2018 exercise with the online registration of intending pilgrims from the state via a website.
He added that Kwara state was allocated two thousand, two hundred and twenty one slots this year adding that NACON has therefore extended till the end of this month for the deadline for the payment of the hajj exercise .
He assured pilgrims from the state of adequate accommodation, transportation, medical and feeding in the Holy land and appealed to all intending pilgrims to adhere strictly by all the rules and regulations of the Saudi Authorities in terms of luggages and guide against carrying contrabands.
The Executive Secretary commended the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isaika Gold and other stake holders for ensuring a smooth and hitch free hajj exercise last year.
He said the board had carried out enlightenment programmes at various local government areas of the state in different languages even as he commended the Federal Government for the renovation of the Ilorin International Airport. He added that the board would soon commence lesser hajj (Umrah) operations.
