As cloud descends on the preparations for the airlift of intending Nigerian pilgrim to Saudi Arabia for this year, 2024 Hajj, chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi has admitted that this is the moment of anxiety.
Signing agreement with airlines in Abuja today, April 4, Arabi said: “we have gone through challenges together this year. As we were following up, so were you.”
NAHCON boss noted that because of the challenges, the signing of the agreement with the airlines should have been done long ago, but expressed confidence that this year’s Hajj would not fail.
“Expectations are there for a successful outing. “You did it in the past, nothing should stop you from doing it again.”
Arabi said that both the commission and the airlines faced the challenges of this year’s Hajj together, saying however: “I am confident that we wouldn’t fail.
“There are moments of anxiety; what we are about to do now, should have been done long time ago. Whatever it is, at least we are here today and we are going to do it.”
NAHCON has been facing multiple challenges both in the country and from the host, Saudi Arabia, chiefly on the issue of the cost of pilgrimage, which has gone as high as N8 million for each pilgrim; the issue of Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) and the need to fill the 90,000 quarter the host country allocated to Nigeria and several others.
