You Can’t Stay in Madinah Beyond Five Days – NAHCON Tells Pilgrims
AREWA AGENDA – The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a new set of rules which will make it mandatory for pilgrims in Madinah to be moved to Makkah after a five-day stay in the second holiest city.
According to a statement by NAHCON’S Deputy Director for Information and Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, the new rules which will take off on Thursday became imperative following the complaint of overcrowding of Nigerian pilgrims in the City of Madinah.
“It is important to note that for the first time in a long time, NAHCON is given 100 percent 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.
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“Moreover, it is a known fact that Nigerian pilgrims live in the exclusive Markaziyya area during their stay, a decision which has been overwhelmingly commended and for which the Commission never intended to compromise.
“However, if the policy must be sustained, then the number of days our pilgrims must stay in Madina had to be reduced. As it is well known that Hajj is fast changing with new development and realities, if the Commission must achieve the objectives of making the 2023 Hajj seamless and comfortable for our pilgrims, it is important to synchronize the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy land with the bed space available, so that the Commission won’t be penalised for airlifting more pilgrims into Madina than the available accommodation or be forced to take the pilgrims to another area which are well below the standard of the current Markaziyya,” the statement read in part.
He therefore craved the support of the pilgrims, Hajj officials and stakeholders for the successful implementation of the policy.
“While reiterating our commitment to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims receive the best quality service in terms of facilities and welfare, the Commission is left with no choice than to adopt this measure in the overall interest of the country,” the statement concluded.
