FCT pilgrim board declares that 2023 Hajj will be successful

In order to build on the success of the 2022 Hajj operations, the Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board has promised to do the same during the 2023 exercise.

Malam Muhammed Danmallam, the board's director, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.

He added that it was a win-win situation and that the board was tasked with legitimately ensuring the well-being of pilgrims visiting Abuja.

‘’The issue of seeing to the need of pilgrims is a religious obligation that we see as an affair that is pleasing to Allah. When a pilgrim is assisted to perform his rites, whoever has a hand in it is rewarded by Allah.

‘’The pilgrim is a visitor of Allah exercising his duties as prescribed by Allah, so pleasing the visitor is pleasing Allah which has its own benefit,’’ he said.

Danmallam claimed that although the 2022 pilgrimage was an emergency one, the board was able to get its affairs in order to carry it out successfully and that there would be ample time to prepare for it in 2023.

‘’If you remember, this year, the Saudi Arabia authourity did not give a clear sign that the pilgrimage would be taking place. It was a short time that all countries had because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘’But our previous experience helped a lot in deciding our quick intervention for carrying out the exercise. The COVID-19 issue hampered most of the preparations usually done by the pilgrims’ board.

‘’This was not limited to Nigerians alone. And the number of persons that performed this year’s Hajj was even less than half of what was obtained previously. We made the best we could of the situation to conduct it to the glory of God,’’ he said.

Danmallam assured that all the difficulties encountered during the 2022 Hajj would serve as a signpost for the advancements that the board had noticed and that would be addressed in 2023.

He praised Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, Minister of State for the FCT, and Muhammed Bello, Minister of the FCT, for their encouragement and support of the operation.

With the sole purpose of organizing, coordinating, and supervising the hassle-free yearly Muslim pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Saudi Arabia, the FCT Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board was established.

Source