The Sokoto state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) said it would commence preparations for next year’s Hajj in February 2016.
The chairman of the agency, Alhaji Muntari Maigona, disclosed this yesterday in Sokoto when he addressed newsmen on post-mortem of Hajj 2015.
He said that “pending the final approval of PWA’s plans by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the Agency will commence the sale of Hajj seats on Feb. 1, 2016.
“The agency will start selling Hajj seats to only the 23 local governments of the state for onward sale to prospective pilgrims, using the 2015 Hajj fares in the interim.
“This is also pending the approval and announcement of tentative 2016 Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).’’
The chairman said the Hajj seats would not be sold to any prospective pilgrim whose international passport had six months or less than that to expire.
According to him, this is to avoid the usual problem and delay associated with about-to-expire passports in getting visas issued to them by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
He said: “I wish to therefore kindly advice prospective 2016 pilgrims to start processing their international passports or commence its renewal process on time.
“The early preparation by PWA is aimed at consolidating the successes recorded during the 2015 Hajj, in spite of the incidents of the crane crash and the stampede in the Saudi kingdom.
“Almighty Allah knows why He allowed such incidents to occur, with the attendant loss of lives, as nobody can question His divination,” Maigona said.
He then prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the 2015 Hajj crane crash and the stampede. (NAN)
