Hajj: Pilgrims to enjoy enhanced passports, reduced airport screening time
Nigerian pilgrims to the 2020 Hajj will benefit from a newly enhanced international passport booklet preliminarily released in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port- Harcourt.
This was revealed when National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller –General of Immigration, Muhammed Babandede as a step towards familiarisation and preparation for a smooth and quick exit of Nigerian pilgrims during hajj operations.
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Alhaji Hassan appreciated the Nigerian Immigration Service for the excellent working relationship between the two sister agencies, but however, decried the long waiting hours experienced by pilgrims during the outbound journey from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia.
He implored the immigration boss to wade into the situation being a one-time NAHCON board member representing the immigration service.
Responding, Babandede congratulated Alhaji Hassan for his confirmation as NAHCON chairman and prayed for the board’s success.
He explained that the enhanced passport is designed to speed up documentation and clearance of travellers and drew the NAHCON’s chief executive attention to the hiccups caused by delay in commencing early preparations for hajj.
Babandede urged the delegation to ensure compliance to registration deadlines and called on state governments to cooperate with NAHCON in its yearly quest to conclude hajj arrangements on schedule.
At the end of the visit, the two agencies agreed to work together working to shore-up the speedy screening of pilgrims.
In another development, the NAHCON chief executive also visited the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Received by the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada and the Permanent Secretary, Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Ambassador Dada congratulated the NAHCON boss on his well-deserved appointment.
He stressed the importance of cooperation between NAHCON and the ministry in the interest of pilgrims most of whom are first timers who may not have travelled out of the country before.
“It is therefore, a trust to make Hajj as easy as possible for them,” Amb. Dada stated and assured that the ministry’s doors will always remain open for consultations and assistance when needed by the commission.
Responding, the NAHCON chief executive reaffirmed that pilgrims stand to gain most from the existing cordiality between his commission and the ministry.
He reiterated his avowed mandate to see that hajj is made affordable to the poor who struggle to fulfil this important religious duty, disclosing that his leadership wants the best services to be provided to pilgrims, but at a reduced cost.
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