The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (FCT-MPWB) has completed its education and orientation exercises for the 2025 intending pilgrims over the weekend.
The Director of the Board, Mallam Kadiri Edah, through Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, the PRO of FCT-MPWB, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the exercises, which were conducted in batches, would be concluded with a practical session to fully prepare the intending pilgrims for the spiritual journey.
According to the Director, the final phase of the exercise is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 26th, and Sunday, 27th April at the FCT Permanent Hajj Camp located at Bassan Jiwa, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Mallam Edah revealed that Islamic scholars have already been mobilized for the exercise, which will be conducted in seven languages due to the diverse nature of the FCT.
He explained that the exercises were carried out in phases, as is customary, to enlighten the intending pilgrims on the Hajj rites, as well as the new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Director stated that the Board is on track with this year’s Hajj operations, as strategies have been mapped out to ensure that pilgrims perform an acceptable Hajj.
He noted that the Board successfully educated the intending pilgrims on the entire process, especially the new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabian government for the 2025 Hajj, which may be unfamiliar to the pilgrims.
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He advised intending pilgrims from the Territory to participate in all programmes organized by the Board, aimed at helping them achieve an acceptable Hajj.
Mallam Edah also urged registered 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 processing of their travel documents.
He added that the Board has already commenced the visa procurement process for the intending pilgrims, secured suitable accommodation in Makkah, and selected reliable service providers to cater to the FCT contingent in Saudi Arabia this year.
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