Saudi Arabian
authorities have announced plans to reduce the number of external pilgrims by
20 percent and those from within the Kingdom by 50 percent in the coming hajj
season.
Relevant Saudi
departments, according to a news report published in the Saudi Gazette, are
currently working out modalities for the implementation of directives by the
authorities to that effect.
The reduction in
the number of local and foreign pilgrims, it was gathered, was necessitated by
“the giant development projects currently being undertaken” in the Grand Mosque
and other holy sites in the Kingdom.
In a statement
yesterday, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed that the
Saudi authorities have slashed Nigeria’s hajj seats from 95,000 to 76,000.
Spokesman of the
commission Alhaji Uba Mana said the reduction does not affect Nigeria alone as
it is a worldwide issue.
He confirmed that
Saudi authorities have slashed the total number of pilgrims from all over the
world for this year’s hajj by 20 percent.
The Saudi
authorities, in a letter sent to the commission, said the measures being taken
were due to the ongoing construction works at the Holy Mosque in Mecca, which
may not be completed before the 2013 hajj season.
The commission
called on states pilgrims’ welfare boards, hajj agencies and other stakeholders
to affect the changes as it was made to provide comfort to the pilgrims from
all over the world.
“The National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wishes to notify all states pilgrims welfare
boards, agencies and other stakeholders that the commission has received a
notice from Saudi Arabia on the 20% global reductions in hajj seat allocations
for 2013 hajj exercise affecting all countries”, NAHCON spokesman Alhaji Mana
said.
The statement also
quoted Saudi Minister of Hajj Affairs Dr Bandar Bin-Muhammad al-Hajjar as
explaining that the usual capacity of Haram is the maximum of 48,000, but as
the expansion projects commenced the number was reduced to 20,000 representing
22 percent.
Consequently,
the commission said the 95, 000 seats allocated to Nigeria has now scaled down
to 76,000 pilgrims.
But sources close
to the Nigerian tour operators said the cut in the number of pilgrims will begin
this Ramadan as more than half the number of intending pilgrims from Nigeria
may not secure Umrah visa.
Daily Trust was
also told that the cost of securing a visa to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj
this Ramadan could go for more than N300,000 as against the N85,000 charged in
the previous years.
“This development
has discouraged many intending Umrah pilgrims; in fact, many have decided not
to go because of the uncertainty as regards the exercise this Ramadan; the
reality is that many cannot afford it because of the high cost and other
difficulties likely to be encountered as a result of the cut in the number of
those going for the lesser hajj by the Saudi authorities”, the source said.
A competent source
at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the development,
saying however that there was no official communication between the commission
and the Saudi authorities on the matter.
On whether the
quota for Umrah in the coming Ramadhan will be slashed, the source said it is
mere interpretation by tour operators. He, however, confirmed that this year’s
Umrah visa has only 15 days validity as against the usual 30 days granted
previously.
Saudi authorities
said the Mosque expansion projects were aimed at enabling the pilgrims and
visitors to complete their hajj and Umrah rites with ease.
Also, Saudi Hajj
Minister, Dr Bandar Al-Hajjar, denied that the number of visas granted to Umrah
companies would be reduced this year. He said slots have been distributed to
cover the whole year.
“The companies
should use the visas granted to them on time and should not hold them to be
used in one month,” he said.
Under the new
arrangement, according to the minister, the visas will be granted on a monthly
basis, and the companies are expected to use them the same month.
“If the visas are
not used during the same month, they will be cancelled,” the minister warned.
He expressed worry
that Umrah companies kept the visas granted to them for the months of Rajab and
Sha’aban for use in the month of Ramadan.
“This practice will
disrupt the ministry’s plans and the system of visa issuance which is tied to
the provision of accommodation, transportation and other services,” he said.
A number of
hotels and Umrah companies have complained that the new arrangements will not
enable them to make long-range plans because they will be obliged to use the
visas for the same month.
They said the
arrangements will not satisfy their needs or help them make early contracts.
“We will not be able to make our programmes for the season if we are not able
to know earlier the number of visas that will be granted,” one operator who
craved anonymity said.
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