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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, has announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead the country’s contingent to this year’s hajj.
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He announced this during a live programme yesterday. Saleh said the Vice President would be performing the yearly religious rite – the fifth pillar of Islam – as a Muslim, adding that he would also personally supervise the spiritual exercise, and assess how it would be handled by those saddled with the responsibility, instead of relying on third party information.
The hajj commission boss said the move would check misinformation. Speaking on ongoing arrangements for this year’s pilgrimage, Saleh confirmed that everything was on course, as provision for over 70,000 pilgrims from the 95,000 quota had been made.
He expressed delight that the measures taken so far have tamed the yearly astronomical rise in the cost of the spiritual journey, adding that more reliefs were being expected for this year’s intending.
The chief executive disclosed that the Saudi authorities have introduced new dual health measures – Health Service Providers – for pilgrims which all participating countries would abide by.
He advised state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions to strictly adhere to the Saudi health guidelines.
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