THE FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board is to commence the registration of intending pilgrims for the 2020 hajj exercise from Friday 1st of November, 2019 across the six area councils and the head office of the Board located at the central business district, Abuja.
A statement from the board’s spokesperson, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu said that intending pilgrims who wish to perform the pilgrimage through the Board are to register in maximum of three installments.
The spoke person said, intending pilgrims are expected to present a bank draft of minimum of N500,000.00 (Five hundred thousand naira) only payable to the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abuja to book for a seat for the 2020 hajj exercise.
According to Aliyu, prospective intending pilgrims are to deposit an average of N1,500,000.00 (one million, five hundred thousand naira) by the end of March 2020 pending the release of the actual hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He disclosed that, all intending pilgrims must be guaranteed by chief Imam of any of the Area Council or a Traditional Ruler or a Senior Civil Servant of not less than Grade Level 12 as contained in the Guideline for the registration of intending Pilgrims by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Female intending pilgrims, Aliyu further explained would only be registered with their male guide (Muharam) in line with the Saudi Arabian government regulations.
He said that the Board has resolved to register intending pilgrims on first-come first-served basis while first timers would be given priority.
Meanwhile, the staff of the board are to undergo capacity building training to enhance their service delivery to the pilgrims before the forthcoming hajj exercise.
The Director of the Board, Malam Muhammad Bashir mni disclosed this while addressing top management staff of the board at a meeting in preparation towards the 2020 hajj operation.
Malam Bashir said the measure became necessary in order to ensure that intending pilgrims from the territory continue to get the best services in hajj exercise in line with the desire of the present Administration.
The Director warned staff against corruption and any act capable of tarnishing the image of the Administration as the Board would not condone any act of indiscipline among the staff toward the success of the operation.
He also stressed the need for the staff to ensure prudence in the exercise and charged them to carry out their duty diligently and desist from abuse of office.
Malam Muhammad Bashir reminded them to work harder to improve on the success recorded in the previous hajj operations and not to derail from the set rules and regulations of the hajj operation.
