Hajj: FCT pilgrims begin medical test today

The Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has said that it will carry out medical screening from Monday July 18 with intending pilgrims from Kwali and Abaji area councils to ascertain their health status before the journey.

The board added that intending pilgrims from Kuje and Abuja Municipal area councils are billed to undergo medical screening on Tuesday July 19, while those from Bwari and Gwagwalada are due for the exercise on Wednesday July 20.

The director of the board, Malam Bashir Muhammad, warned intending pilgrims to adhere strictly to instructions and participate in all activities aimed at successful hajj exercise.

Muhammad gave the advice during the commencement of education and orientation exercise for the 2016 intending pilgrims held at the permanent hajj camp in Abuja.

He said that examinations would be conducted at the end of the orientation exercises and any intending pilgrim who could not get the required marks would not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia for the exercise.

The director said that a befitting hotel accommodation has been secured for Muslims to this year’s hajj in Makkah Saudi Arabia.

He stated that the accommodation were located close to the Holy Mosque to enable pilgrims perform their religious obligations with less stress. He emphasised that failure to attend any event might lead to disqualification of intending pilgrims from the exercise.

About 3,000 intending pilgrims would perform the hajj through the board this year.