The timely participation of intending pilgrims in the Hajj processes is necessary to avoid unnecessary challenges by the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and pilgrim.
Director of the board, Malam Muhammed Danmallam, made this known on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the FCT board was desirous of conducting a hitch free Hajj exercise for intending pilgrims but the full support of the participants was necessary to achieve this.
‘’The FCT pilgrim most time is known to be in the elitist category being the capital of the country where the high and the mighty are residing. We have other categories of persons from the rural areas, too.
‘’The board will want all intending pilgrims to start participating in our various programs designed to make the Hajj hitch free. This has been a bit hard to achieve; but we are trying our best to change the narrative.
‘’We have on ground various enlightenment programs that are conducted through radio and television as well as physically at the Hajj camp.
‘’The program are aimed at sensitizing the intending pilgrims, weather 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 on the issue for pilgrims to take advantage of the flight schedules allocated to the board in order to avoid waste of time and resources.
‘’When a flight is schedule 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 the issue of enlightenment, he said that the board employed languages mostly understood by intending pilgrims for maximum understanding, adding that Hajj is about performance according to prescribed standards.
The director added that English, Hausa, Yoruba, Gwari, Fulfulde, and Ebira were among the languages used in carrying out the education of intending pilgrims on the rites.
He added that the physical training was also conducted at the camp where there are structures for Kaaba, Tawaf and Sa’i as well as throwing of the stone.
Danmallam said that staff of the board were trained and retrained on their obligations periodically to keep them up to date and maximize service delivery.
He lauded the FCT Administration for also seeing to the proper welfare of the staff which has helped in maintaining discipline, efficiency and dedication in operations.
