The FCT Administration would henceforth consider all intending pilgrims who registered first with the FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board for the 2016 Muslim Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello gave this directive Thursday in Abuja, while receiving the 2015 Hajj Report from the FCT Amirul-Hajj and the Director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, in his office.
The Minister reiterated that the intending pilgrims for the 2016 Hajj Operations from the Federal Capital Territory would secure a seat based on first come, first served basis.
According to him, “the new system should be designed in such a manner that when allocation for the year is exhausted, other registered pilgrims will be given priority attention in the subsequent year.
Malam Bello remarked that the directive was necessary to ensure fair play and justice in the entire exercise; stressing that the demand for the Hajj seats is always higher than what is available.
His words: “You know the seats will not be enough for the teeming pilgrims from the FCT. You have to set up a system whereby registration is done on first come, first served basis with no favoritism and to ensure that this is publicly known by everybody”.
The Minister who advised the Board to conduct the 2016 registration exercise based on “fair play, justice and the fear of God,” said that every intending pilgrim should be assessed objectively and given a fair chance.
Malam Bello commended the Board for the successful completion of the 2015 Hajj operation and condoled the families of the pilgrims that passed away during the last exercise.
The Minister promised that all the reports and recommendations on the 2015 Hajj exercise would be looked at thoroughly so that solutions will be found to the challenges.
Speaking earlier, the FCT Amirul-Hajj and the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa appealed to the Minister to galvanize for the early preparation of the 2016 Hajj exercise.
He said a credible committee should be constituted to work in conjunction with the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to carry out the Pre-Hajj activities of acquiring accommodation in Saudi Arabia for intending pilgrims.
In his remarks, the Director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Bashir Muhammad, said all arrangements have been concluded for the commencement of the 2016 Hajj exercise with sales of registration forms to commence next month.
He expressed appreciation of the Board for the moral and financial support as well as the cooperation the Board has received from the FCT Administration, which he said was the catalyst for their “remarkable success.”
