Federal Govt, Saudi Arabia Sign MoU On 2023 Hajj

Federal government through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj for the 2023 Hajj rites.

The much- anticipated MoU was sealed yesterday at a colourful ceremony held at the SuperDome Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The minister of state for foreign affairs, Ambassador Zubair Dada, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria in the presence of the chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan and three executive  commissioners of the commission,  Nura Hassan Yakassai, Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa and Sheikh Suleman Mommoh as well as board members and staff of the commission.

One of the highlights of the document is the confirmation of 95, 000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for this year’s Hajj with 75,000 allocated to the 36 state pilgrims welfare boards /Agency/Commissions including the FCT and Armed Forces while 20000 is allocated to the private Tour operators.

According to a press statement issued by  Mousa Ubandawaki, assistant director, information and publications, NAHCON, the Nigerian delegations on the side line of the Mou, met with the Mutawwif of African Non- Arab, whose chairman Ahmad Sindi assured the country of their readiness to make the 2023 Hajj better than the previous years.

He further disclosed that his agency in a bid to create more rooms and space for pilgrims have adopted the use of double deck bed at the Mashair for some countries and urged the participating countries to work assiduously to achieve a hitch- free Hajj 2023.