The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has restarted its orientation program for intending pilgrims this year. In a statement released by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Aliyu, it was revealed that the second phase of the education and orientation exercise for pilgrims will commence on Saturday, April 29th and Sunday, April 30th, 2023, after the conclusion of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Director of the Board, Mallam Abubakar Evuti, stated that the board has outlined activities to ensure that intending pilgrims are well prepared for the spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia. The director further explained that the board will educate intending pilgrims on the rudiments of performing hajj, to guarantee that they get value for their hard-earned money paid to perform the religious obligation.
Intending pilgrims who paid through Abaji, Kwali, and Gwagwalada area councils, as well as those who registered through the Hajj Saving Scheme, will be trained on April 29th, while those who registered through the Headquarters, Bwari, Kuje, and Abuja Municipal Area councils will have their orientation exercise on April 30th at the permanent Hajj Camp located at Bassan Jiwa, close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.
Islamic scholars and relevant stakeholders have already been mobilized for the exercise, which is scheduled to begin at 8 o’clock each day, the statement added. The orientation exercises will enable the intending pilgrims to get enlightened on the hajj rites as well as guidelines and new policies introduced for this year’s hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The statement also revealed that medical screening for intending pilgrims will be conducted from May 5th to May 7th, while inoculation exercise for all the intending pilgrims will be conducted from May 15th to May 17th, 2023, in line with the procedure for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
The board urged intending pilgrims to participate in all activities earmarked by the board for proper guidance to get value for their money without any hindrance. Evuti further warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their international passports to do so promptly, to enable the board to fast track the process of obtaining their travel documents in good time before the commencement of airlift to Saudi Arabia.
