The Assistant Director, Mrs Fatima Sanda-Usara, Public
Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, said this in a statement
on Sunday in Abuja.
”Nigeria under the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
(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,
Mr Yusuf Tuggar and Malam Jalal Arabi, the acting Chairman of NAHCON.
”The host country’s contingent was led by the Saudi Arabian
Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Taufiq Al-Rabiah,” she said.
According to her, prior to the signing of the MoU, the two
ministers held brief discussions where Nigeria requested for a lasting solution
to the shortage of tents in Muna.
She added that the Nigerian government also pressed for more
favourable terms for the country’s carriers during transportation of pilgrims
for the holy pilgrimage.
She explained that the Nigerian team also invited the Saudi
Minister of Hajj and Umrah for a visit to the country.
Sanda-Usara quoted the Saudi minister as acknowledging the
challenge of space in Muna and assuring that efforts were being made to
maximise the use of the available two million square metres for the over two
million pilgrims that performs Hajj annually.
He expressed the Ministry’s support for all measures aimed
at giving pilgrims the best services and accepted to visit Nigeria soon.