The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, said on Wednesday that it would commence transportation of 2019 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, July 19.
The Director of the Board, Muhammad Bashir, disclosed this at a meeting with officials billed to participate in the 2019 Hajj Operation held at the Permanent Hajj Transit Camp, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Mr Bashir explained that intending pilgrims from the territory would be departing the country to the holy city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia aboard Flynas airline, the official carrier assigned to the FCT by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON.
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“The board has already secured and printed visas for over 90 per cent of the intending pilgrims and completed all necessary arrangements to transport them.
“I advise intending pilgrims to cross check their flight schedule with their respective area officers to know their actual flight.
“I also want to warn against missing of flight by intending pilgrims as those who miss their flight will have themselves to blame.
“The board has mapped out strategies to ensure security of the intending pilgrims and other pilgrims within the zone during their camping exercise,’’ he said.
Mr Bashir called on the officials to take the welfare of the intending pilgrims with paramount importance and ensure that the operation is hitch-free.
He reassured on the readiness of the board to provide an enabling environment for the officials to carry out their assignments in Nigeria and the holy land and called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
No fewer than 2000 intending pilgrims from the FCT registered by the board are expected to perform 2019 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
NAN
