As preparations intensify for the 2024 Pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has set December 27th as the deadline for registration for individuals interested in participating in this year’s Hajj with the Board.
The Director of the FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Abubakar Evuti, announced this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji.
Evuti revealed that the Board had initiated a sensitisation campaign involving stakeholders to educate them about the new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabian government and relevant agencies concerning the 2024 Hajj exercise.
This effort aimed to ensure that all stakeholders were well-informed about the updated regulations and procedures.
He also stated that the Board has since commenced the registration of prospective pilgrims and requested that residents of the territory who have the intention of performing hajj through the board should ensure an early deposit of the minimum amount before the deadline.
Evuti called on the relevant stakeholders on hajj to assist the Board in ensuring that the message gets to the grassroots in order to ensure that residents were not caught unaware as the policies on the entire hajj exercise have been changed by Saudi Arabia.
He also called on the Muslim community in the territory and relevant stakeholders in the Hajj operation to collaborate with the board in ensuring a hitch-free exercise next year.
The Director disclosed that prospective Intending Pilgrims are to deposit a bank draft of minimum of Four Million Five Hundred Naira (N4,500,000.00) only to book their seat for the exercise across the six area councils and the head office of the Board located at the central business district, Abuja.
He said that the Board has resolved to redouble its efforts to enhance services to the registered Intending Pilgrims through the new strategies introduced for the forthcoming Hajj exercise.
Earlier, the Chairman, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, council of Chiefs and the Ona of Abaji, Adamu Yunusa has pledged to support the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in sensitising Intending Pilgrims in early registration for next year’s Hajj.
The traditional leader stressed that the traditional institution is the closest body to the grassroots and stands a better opportunity to mobilise the intended pilgrims to participate in the exercise.
The Ona of Abaji emphasised the need for the Board and other government agencies to engage them in disseminating information on policies that are aimed at enhancing the lives of the citizens due to their closeness to the people at the grassroots and are ready at all times to contribute their own quarter in implementing government policies.
He therefore called on the residents of the territory to ensure their compliance in registering for next year’s hajj early before the deadline set by the authority to enable them to discharge their religious obligation.
. TheWitness
