IHR wants NAHCON to adopt two-year hajj registration policy

A civil society organisation that monitors and reports hajj activities, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to adopt two-year hajj registration policy.

The group, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed and publicity secretary, Abubakar Mahmoud, called on NAHCON to commence the registration of intending pilgrims for Hajj 2021 alongside the ongoing Hajj 2020 registration exercise.

“While we commend NAHCON for issuing a timely directive to states’ Muslim pilgrims welfare boards to commence pilgrims registration, the current yearly registration of intending pilgrims in Nigeria often creates serious challenges on the delivery of consistent services to intending pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“The introduction of tourist visa has opened the door for a large number of tourists to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Given this development, securing a standard accommodation close to the vicinity of the Holy Mosque in Makkah will be a tough task unless NAHCON and state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards devise ways of contracting pilgrims’ accommodations beyond one year as being done by countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Allowing those who wish to perform hajj in 2021 to commence payment now will ease the process of pilgrims’ registration. Services like transport, accommodation and catering can be hired for two years as opposed to the current practice of securing services very close to hajj arrangements,” the IHR said.

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It urged NAHCON to work towards the possibility of commencing registration for hajj 2021 along with that of 2020.

The group said early payment will benefit intending pilgrims in the areas of enlightenment, documentation and provision of other logistics as states’ pilgrims welfare boards would have ample time for such exercises.

“Seventy-five-80 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims belong in the middle class and 80-90 per cent of that number is made up of farmers. They, therefore, may lack the financial muzzle to pay for hajj seat at a go. As such, the majority of the intending pilgrims will prefer a system that allows payment in bits,” it added.

IHR advised NAHCON to urgently adopt a framework that is based on contractual deposits and fund investment mechanisms for pilgrims’ registration in the country.

“Hajj operation has now been digitalised with breathtaking innovations that have made it easy for countries to secure the best services for their pilgrims.

“People can now apply online for Hajj 2020 and countries such as India recently introduced a mobile application that made it possible for intending pilgrims to stay in the comfort of their houses and register.

“Adopting a two-year registration policy will assist hajj air carriers, caterers, accommodation providers and transport companies to engage in long-term planning and also reduce the pressure on the part of intending pilgrims.

“For example, the Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony recently said it was preparing a three-year hajj policy on the pattern of other countries in which accommodation, building, catering and transport arrangements are under consideration on a long-term basis to ensure the best facilities at low cost.

“Intending pilgrims who wish to perform hajj in the year 2021 can be allowed to commence registration with their respective states. Pilgrims will now have enough time and escape the associated pressure of the fire brigade approach,” the group emphasised.