Biometric data capturing of intending hajj pilgrims to begin soon

THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have concluded arrangements to kick off biometric capturing of the 2019 intending pilgrims.

The Head, Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Mrs Fatima Usara, who made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja, said the decision to commence the exercise was reached after a special meeting convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr Adnan bin Mahmoud Bostaji and NAHCON, led by its chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad.

She said the meeting discussed ways of ensuring a hitch-free biometrics capturing exercise for the hajj and umrah pilgrims in view of the readiness of both NAHCON and the Saudi Mission in Nigeria to start the exercise early to avoid a last-minute rush.

Usara said parties in the meeting gave the assurance that they had finalised all arrangements relating to Nigerian intending pilgrims’ registration for the 2019 hajj.

“They have provided all the necessary support to enable securing of visas within the approved time frame.

“The Saudi Embassy in Abuja and Consulate-General in Kano along with Nigerian Hajj Commission agreed to deploy all within their means to achieve the success of the arrangements.

“NAHCON, therefore, calls on all intending pilgrims who have paid for the exercise under any state of the federation to ensure that they conclude all required administrative documentations within the specified time, including biometrics capturing,” she stated.

She said the leadership of NAHCON commended the dedication of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for constantly and efficiently improving services to pilgrims.

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This, she said, was evident from the Kingdom’s heavy investment in hajj infrastructural development as well as the yearly upgrade of all hajj and umrah-related processes in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Usara said that Bostaji assured the meeting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would deploy everything to make the hajj and umrah easy for pilgrims, having considered it a privilege and honour to host the guests of Allah.

Lagos begins medical screening of intending pilgrims

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Ishola, has stated that the first phase of medical test to verify the health condition of the intending pilgrims from the state has commenced.

Ishola advised intending pilgrims not to hide their health status to avoid putting effective management of their health condition in jeopardy, adding that the earlier their health condition is identified the better.

Ishola called on the hajj applicants to visit the laboratory of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for the first phase of the medical test after collecting their application and pre-hajj screening forms from the board.

He also requested intending pilgrims who have completed their payments and medical tests for this year’s hajj to submit their forms at the board’s office for further processing.