Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar
6 July 2009
Abuja — Intending Muslim pilgrims to this year's hajj from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have started submitting their e-passports at the area councils where they deposited their money as requested by the FCT Muslims' Pilgrims Welfare Board.
This is even as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON is yet to formally announce this year's hajj fare.
While confirming the situation, the Public Relation Officer of the board, Mallam Aliyu Usman, said FCT intending pilgrims were asked to submit the e-passport to their respective area councils where they deposited their money for "at list move one step with the arrangements."
He said the reason behind this is for the board to fast-track the arrangement before it is too late, considering the fact that the National Hajj Commission is planning for Visa before the end of the month of Ramadan.
"We want to make sure that none of our pilgrim is left behind, that is why we decided to go ahead with collection of the passport," he said.
Aliyu also said the passports would be returned back to their owner after the processing of Visa, together with Visa Travelling Allowance (VTA) at the airport; saying the e-passport will be collected again immediately after the pilgrim landed at the Jidda International Airport.
Responding, NAHCON spoke person Uba Mana said state can go ahead with collection of the e-passport at "their own discretions, for safety."
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