‘Nigeria risks losing 95,000 hajj quotas’

The Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation, has called for mass enlightenment campaign to persuade intending pilgrims register to enable Nigeria utilize its 2017 hajj seats allocation.

A statement by the national coordinator of the organisation, Ibrahim Muhammed and publicity secretary Abubakar Mahmoud said Nigeria risks losing its allocations quota in subsequent years, if it refuses to fill up its 2017 hajj seats quota.

“We are calling on NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies, Hajj Service Providers, the media and hajj NGOs to embark on grassroots campaign, to encourage Nigerian intending pilgrims to expedite their hajj registration in order to avoid the consequences of Nigeria not utilizing its 2017 hajj seats quota,” it said.

Nigeria’s quota currently stands at 95,000 with states pilgrims and armed forces have 75,000 and 20, 000 for Tour Operators.

It said, “Of the 75, 000 allocated to states, only 51, 000 has been utilized leaving 19, 000 seats unsold. The slow responds of pilgrims is being attributed to the hope of possible government’s intervention of granting lower exchange rate to reduce the 2017 hajj fare.

“The consequences of not utilizing our hajj seats quota this year are many: Saudi Arabia hajj authority may reduce next year hajj seats quota to the exact number of this year’s hajj seats sold. The status of Nigeria as the country with the fourth largest pilgrims in the world and first in Africa will be quashed.”