The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Tuesday that it had resolved that the 2016 Hajj slots would be allocated to first timers only.
This directive, contained in a statement issued in by Alhaji Uba Mana, the Head of Media of NAHCON in Abuja, said that the new arrangement would give ample opportunity to those who had not performed the Hajj before to discharge their spiritual obligation.
The statement said that the commission had resolved that all States Pilgrims Boards registration of intending pilgrims for 2016 hajj should be 100 per cent first timers.
“ Sequel to the distribution of 2016 Hajj slots to the 36 States of the Federation, the FCT and the Armed Forces, NAHCON wishes to clarify as follows.
“ The 2016 Hajj slots should entirely be allocated to first timers only in order to give ample opportunity to those that have not performed the Hajj to discharge their obligation.“
It advised those who had performed the holy pilgrimage before and were still interested, to go through the private tour operators and not through the state Pilgrims Welfare Board and agencies.
The statement, however, said that hajj officials were exempted from this restriction due to essential nature of their duties.
It said that all Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies and commissions were expected to collect payment deposits from intending pilgrims and remit same to NAHCON as at when due.
The statement noted that reservation of slots for any reason whatsoever, including government-sponsored pilgrims beyond the stipulated deadline for pilgrims’ registration, was strictly not acceptable.
“Failure to abide by this instruction will undermine Nigeria’s full compliance with the Saudi Hajj e-track requirement which usually results to loss of Hajj slots,” the statement said.
Later in an interview, the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad said that the commission would go through its archives to fish out old timers who want to go to hajj.
Muhammad also said that the commission would collaborate with embassies to track down visas of such persons.
“We cannot allow people that have gone to hajj over and over to continue to the detriment of those who have never gone before,” he said.