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18 May 2009 The Saudi Authorities have allocated
95,000 seats to Nigeria for this year's hajj, the
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON),
Alhaji Muhammad Bello said in Abuja at the weekend.
Alhaji Bello who has just returned from Saudi
Arabia stated that the number of seats allocated to
the country this year is the same as that of last
year. He said a "Memorandum of understanding (MOU) for
the 2009 was signed with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj"
during his visit to the holy land.
The NAHCON boss stated that states would maintain
the same number of seats allocated to them last year,
saying 70% of the seats must be reserved for new
pilgrims.
Speaking on the allegation that some Muslim women
applying for e-passports were been asked by
immigration officers to remove their veil during
picture snapping sessions, he said it was false. He
said any woman asked to do so should report to the
commission or her state pilgrims' board.
"As far as we know, no woman is expected to remove
her veil for the purpose of taking the picture for the
e-passport. Even last year there are some women who
went with e-passport, and they were not asked to
remove their head-cover in the process. We request
both the immigration service and state pilgrims
welfare boards to facilitate the issuance of this
passport to pilgrims in a very efficient and quick
manner", he said.
On hajj fare, Bello said "we have directed all the
states to collect hajj fare based on what they
collected last year, and to remit 50% of what they
have collected by the end of this month."
EsinIslam.Com
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