Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Arabian authorities towards the smooth conduct of the 2024 Hajj.Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Mrs Fatima Sanda-Usara, stated this, yesterday, in Abuja.
She said: “Nigeria, under NAHCON, solidified its commitment to a seamless Hajj by signing the 2024 (1445AH) Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
“The ceremony was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and had in attendance key representatives of Nigeria led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and acting Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Arabi. The host country’s contingent was led by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Taufiq Al-Rabiah.”
Sanda-Usara said prior to the signing of the MoU, the two ministers held brief discussions where Nigeria requested a lasting solution to the shortage of tents in Muna.
She also said the Federal Government also pressed for more favourable terms for the country’s carriers during transportation of pilgrims for the holy pilgrimage.
According to her, the Nigerian team also invited the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah to the country.
Sanda-Usara quoted the Saudi minister as acknowledging the challenge of space in Muna, assuring that efforts were being made to maximise the use of the available two million square metres for the over two million pilgrims performing Hajj yearly.
He expressed the ministry’s support for all measures aimed at giving pilgrims the best services and agreed to visit Nigeria soon. Other participants at the meeting included the Nigerian Consul-General in Jeddah, Bello Kazaure, senior officers from the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia and NAHCON.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Saudi Arabian Ministry for Hajj and Umrah had allocated 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for the 2024 holy pilgrimage.
