The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has urged state Muslim pilgrim welfare boards who have not yet submitted an application for the reimbursement of their pilgrims who took part in the 2022 Hajj to do so right away, ahead of the start of the pre-hajj preparations for 2023.

This is following on the heels of the confirmation by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of a scheduled Zoom meeting with NAHCON on December 21 in preparation for the 2023 Hajj in a letter officially received through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a release provided to Tribune Online and signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, the state pilgrims’ welfare boards were to allow the commission to resolve any outstanding issues related to the 2022 Hajj in order to prevent disruptions while getting ready for the 2023 Hajj season.

“The need for the call stemmed from the Commission’s determination to resolve all outstanding Hajj matters by 2022 in order to prevent disruptions during the upcoming Hajj season,” Usara said.

More details about the December 21 Zoom meeting with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah were provided by Usara, who said the meeting was set to start at 10:30 a.m. Saudi Arabian time and 8:30 a.m. Nigerian time.

She stated that the purpose of the meeting was to set the groundwork for the two nations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Hajj in 2023.

One of the topics to be discussed at the Zoom conference is how much the services for the Hajj in 2023 will cost, particularly the Masha’ir package.

You may remember that during the last Hajj, Masha’ir services were more expensive than anticipated and information about the total cost was only learned after the fact.

“The meeting’s agenda will also contain a request from NAHCON for the MOHU to intercede on behalf of African non-Arab countries with the Mutawif Company in order to issue outstanding reimbursements for some services that were paid for but were either inadequately or not performed at all during the 2022 Hajj exercise.

Additionally, NAHCON intends to reaffirm its goal for the standard of Masha’ir facilities for the Hajj in 2023 to match the cost of the service.

“A request for updates on the Makkah Route initiative project and the Commission’s plan on transportation services in the kingdom during the Hajj is also on the front burner,” Usara said.

In a related event, the Hajj Institute of Nigeria’s key officers will start their positions today in anticipation of the start of the academic year.

Professor Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare, a former vice chancellor of the IBB University in Lapai, has been named the Hajj Institute’s interim rector.

While the registrar of the institute, Ibrahim Abubakar Jalingo, assumed office last Friday, Maiturare, who lecturers at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, assume office today.