Nigeria & Saudi sign MoU on 2024 Hajja
The Federal Government has officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia to enhance the smooth conduct of the Hajj pilgrimage in 2024.
The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony in Jeddah on Sunday, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Jalal Arabi, the acting Chairman and CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The announcement was disclosed in a document released on Sunday by Fatima Usara, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at NAHCON.
It was reported by PUNCH Online that Nigerian pilgrims encountered various challenges in the past, including insufficient tent accommodations in Mina and Arafat, substandard living conditions, inadequate medical attention during emergencies, and transportation issues.
In response to the reported challenges, the House of Representatives initiated an investigation into the matter and directed the Committee on Pilgrims Affairs to conduct a thorough inquiry into the anomalies from the 2023 Hajj, with a deadline of four weeks for a report.
According to the NAHCON statement, on January 7, 2024, Nigeria, through NAHCON, reaffirmed its commitment to a seamless Hajj by signing the 2024 (1445AH) Hajj MoU with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The signing ceremony in Jeddah was attended by key representatives from Nigeria, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Jalal Arabi, Ag. Chairman/CEO of NAHCON. The Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Taufiq Al-Rabiah, led the host country’s delegation.
Before the MoU signing, Ambassador Yusuf engaged in discussions with the Saudi Minister, addressing issues such as the shortage of tents in Mina and seeking more favorable terms for Nigerian Carriers during Hajj airlifts.
The Nigerian team also extended an invitation for the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah to visit Nigeria.
In response, Minister Rabiah acknowledged the space challenge in Mina and assured Nigerian authorities that efforts were underway to maximize the use of the available space for the pilgrims.
He expressed the ministry’s support for measures aimed at providing the best services to pilgrims and agreed to visit Nigeria in the near future. Other Nigerian participants included the Consul-General in Jeddah, Bello Hussaini Kazaure, senior officers from the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia, and NAHCON representatives.
Punchng