To avoid unnecessary challenges by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and pilgrims, intending pilgrims must participate in the Hajj processes on time.
Malam Muhammed Danmallam, the board’s director, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
He stated that the FCT board wished to conduct a trouble-free Hajj exercise for intending pilgrims but that the full support of the participants was required to accomplish this.
‘’The FCT pilgrim, most time, is known to be in the elitist category, the capital of the country where the high and the mighty reside. We have other categories of people from rural areas, too.
‘’The board will want all intending pilgrims to start participating in our various programmes designed to make the Hajj hitch-free. This has been difficult to achieve, but we are trying our best to change the narrative.
‘’We have on-ground various enlightenment programmes conducted through radio and television as well as physically at the Hajj camp.
‘’The programme is aimed at sensitising the intending pilgrims, whether old or new, on the rudiments of the Hajj. Moreso, a lot of new initiative is being introduced by the Saudi authority that is needed to be imbibed by pilgrims,’’ he said.
Danmallam said that the success of the Hajj exercise depends on the cooperation of the pilgrims, adding that this would improve mutual understanding between the board and pilgrims.
He also stressed the issue of pilgrims taking advantage of the flight schedules allocated to the board to avoid waste of time and resources.
‘’When a flight is scheduled for the pilgrims, we expect them to come out at the right time to avoid delaying the flight and the economic cost to the board.
‘’During the Hajj period, the flights are allocated to various pilgrim boards within and outside Nigeria. There is normally an economic implication when it is not boarded on time or when it leaves without meeting it capacity,’’ he said.
On enlightenment, he stated that the board used languages most commonly understood by intending pilgrims for maximum comprehension, adding that Hajj is about performing according to prescribed standards.
The director said that English, Hausa, Yoruba, Gwari, Fulfulde, and Ebira were among the languages used to educate intending pilgrims on the rites.
He went on to say that physical training was also done at the camp, where there are structures for the Kaaba, Tawaf, and Sa’i, as well as stone-throwing.
Danmallam stated that board staff were trained and retrained on their responsibilities on a regular basis to keep them up to date and maximize service delivery.
He praised the FCT Administration for also looking after the well-being of its employees, which has contributed to the maintenance of discipline, efficiency, and dedication in operations.
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