Let’s do an inventive arithmetic.
During Hajj 2019, Saudi Arabia increased Pakistan quota by 15,000 to a total of 179,210 which ranks second in the top ten counties. Indonesia ranked highest with 221,000.
So, 50,000 by 179,210 is equivalent of 27.9 percent of Pakistan’s 2019 Hajj Seat quota. Scary indeed.
So, what is the 28 percent of 95,000 being Nigeria’s Hajj 2019 allocation?
The answer is 26, 600 pilgrims.
However, there is a flip analysis that favours Nigeria.
Pakistan is among the 20 countries that Saudi Arabia has placed on international flight ban while Nigerian Umrah pilgrims are currently flying to the Kingdom for lesser hajj. The unofficial announcement by Pakistan Minister of Hajj may be a peculiar case because of the ban on international flight from Pakistan due to Covid 19 new strains. Saudi has announced the resumption of international flights on 17 May but still exclude those 20 countries. The banned countries, named by the Ministry of Interior, are: Argentina, the UAE, Germany, the US, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Egypt, India and Japan.
Nigeria may get twice of what may be given to Pakistan and that is around 40-50% of our Hajj 2019 allocation.
If Hajj 2021 smiles on us with the above projections, there is another issue of how to adopt a balanced formula for sharing the hajj seats to States Muslim Pilgrims Boards and possibly, private Hajj Operators.
It is noteworthy that the top ten States Muslim Pilgrims boards has so far registered more than 2,500 pilgrims each. Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Bauchi, Zamfara and Niger State. Another issue is whether Private Hajj Operators will partake in the sharing ratio if States Pilgrims registration lists has not been exhausted.
Well, I think NAHCON is working on the answer because currently, the numbers of pilgrims registered by States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare boards may be well above 40,000.
The biggest challenge will be the ability of States Muslim Pilgrims Boards to sort out the required number of pilgrims using the Ministry of Hajj age criteria from their existing database of pilgrim’s registration within the shortest possible time. It is going to be a tricky business!
For example, if the age bracket for Hajj 2021 falls within 20-50 as hinted by Pakistani Minister and each country is required to send 40% of their Hajj 2019 quota and such announcement comes less than 40 days to the day of Arafat.
Most State Pilgrims boards had rolled over Hajj 2020 registered pilgrims to hajj 2021. More importantly, Hajj 2020 pilgrims’ registration guideline that was used by states does not include the age brackets.
I understand that NAHCON had instructed SMPWBs to periodically given updates on the total number of pilgrims in their registration list. In addition, NAHCON should direct States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to start creating database of Pilgrims based on age brackets of say 20-50, 20-55 and 20- 60.
Pilgrims enlightments should concentrate on the need for pilgrims to adhere to health protocols. NAHCON and states Muslim Pilgrims boards should create a Hajj 2021 Health services contracts form. Intending pilgrims or their Guarantors should be made to append their signatures. The form should have a condition stating that “Intending Pilgrims can be withdrawn from participating in 2021 hajj once such pilgrims violate Health protocols either in Nigeria or in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I makes this suggestion because Nigeria ‘elites’ pilgrims can be very difficult in terms of policy compliance.
States should by now be processing pilgrims’ uniform and suitcases. Those two items can be used next year even if Hajj 2021 couldn’t hold. Preliminary screening of pilgrims to identify those with underlying health conditions should start. Though, enlightenments are ongoing in some states, NAHCON should ensure that the issue of health protocols forms major part of pilgrims’ education. Issue of some states fixing deposit and delay in funding Basic Travelling allowance account should be taken care before the cock crows. NAHCON and States should intensify inter-agency partnerships to update other sister agencies involved in Hajj operations of what is cooking.
Significantly, the NAHCON directive issued via circular to states Muslim Pilgrims Board on Covid 19 vaccine was based on a letter of advice from Nigerian Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA and I am sure, NPHCDA advice was based on announcements and developments relating to Hajj and Umrah by the Ministry of Hajj as published by Media Houses.
We cannot afford to be complacent waiting for official communication from Saudi Ministry of Hajj. It is my opinion that we can also kick start skeletal preparations and work on assumed numbers based on Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs statements as published by Hajj Reporters.
Finally, if we treat a situation as it is, it will remain as it is but, if we move out of our comfort zones and handle a situation as it can and should, then, it will become as it can and should be. It is my sincere hope that Hajj 2021 will be a testing field for all of us within the Hajj and Umrah Industry and with the support and cooperation of all, we can subdue the challenges and make it a success.
Whether Hajj 2021 comes to fruition or not, it is important to for us to remember that Allah only tests us with as much as we can specifically handle and overcome. “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” [Quran 2:286]
“So verily, with the hardship, there is relief. [Quran 94:5-6], this particular verse reminds us that with every hardship in life, there will always be relief from Allah as well. May Almighty make Hajj 2021 a relief version of Hajj 2020 for Muslim Ummah.
