Following this development, all pilgrims arriving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will now proceed directly to Makkah instead of going first to Madinah.The leader of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria Advance Team to receive the pilgrims into the holy land, Alhaji Liad Tella, stated this yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
“Under the agreement between National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, 60 per cent of Nigeria pilgrims for the 2009 hajj are to proceed to Madinah before Arafat, while 40 per cent will go direct to Makkah. As from November 4, all pilgrims arriving the Kingdom are to proceed to Makkah,” Tella said.
State pilgrims welfare boards/agencies and zonal coordinators have been directed to communicate this to all pilgrims leaving for this year’s hajj.Meanwhile, this year’s hajj operation is said to be faster, as it took the commission 17 days to achieve 60 per cent mark in 2008 which has now been covered in just 11 days.
/106