Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Yahaya Lawal, has urged Saudi Arabian authorities to increase Nigeria’s hajj quota and include the nation in its Makkah Route Initiative. Speaking at the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) meeting in Jeddah, Ambassador Lawal disclosed that demand for hajj seats by Nigerian Muslims has surged in recent years, making the present 95,000 allocation insufficient.
In addition to appealing for more slots, the Ambassador also requested that Nigeria be included in the Makkah Route Initiative. With Vision 2030 in mind, the initiative aims to streamline pilgrims’ travel procedures from their home countries. It includes the collection of biometric details, completing passport procedures at departure airports, and verifying necessary health requirements, among other things. Pilgrims are then driven in buses straight to their lodging in Makkah and Madinah, with the initiative reducing time spent on travel procedures.
Alhaji Lawal also urged Nigerian pilgrims to showcase the country in a good light while embarking on religious journeys. He encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunity given by Allah to optimize the temporal and spiritual gains of the pilgrimage, indicating that the facilities set up to ensure their comfort and well-being should be used to the fullest.
Nigeria has been named among the countries with the largest number of pilgrims yearly that participate in Umrah and Hajj. Thus, being included in the Makkah Route Initiative is an excellent opportunity for the nation to streamline the process for those partaking in religious journeys, reducing the potential of related hassle while promoting efficiency and organization.
