Nigeria awaits quota as Saudi approves one million pilgrims for Hajj 2022

After two years of restriction, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yesterday, approved the participation of one million pilgrims, including foreigners and residents of the Kingdom for the 2022 hajj exercise.

The Kingdom had restricted the 2020 and 2021 hajj to citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia largely to prevent viral spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus into the country. Yet, the allocation is largely below the 2.4 million pilgrims capacity accommodated in 2019.

According to a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, with one million allocation, the Kingdom is keen on ensuring that the maximum number of Muslims worldwide perform Hajj and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in a safe and spiritual atmosphere.

Notwithstanding the allocation, the Kingdom has pegged maximum age limit of 65 years old, as well as mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health for interested persons.

According to the release, pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom for the 2022 hajj are required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to departure to the Kingdom.

The Saudi government also among other conditions, urged strict compliance to stipulated instruction from the Kingdom’s ministry of health, particularly, precautionary measures to preserve their health and safety, while performing the Hajj rituals.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and other hajj participating countries globally are patiently waiting for distribution of the global allocation. Though there is anxiety that Nigeria may lose more than 50 per cent of previous allocations, there are fears that the maximum age limit may naturally edge hundreds of intending pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has threatened to sanction state’s pilgrim welfare boards that failed to remit the rollover deposits for 2020/2021 into a dedicated account with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement issued by NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Usara, at the weekend, the commission decried the attitude of affected states, an action that contravenes the laws and principles guiding hajj operations in Nigeria.