Upgrade Pilgrims Transit Camps, CSO Urges State Govs

A Hajj reporting and monitoring group, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has urged state governors across the country, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to renovate and upgrade Hajj transit camps in their domains ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise.

In a statement issued to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, the group emphasised the urgent need for the renovations and upgrade, citing the deteriorating state of some transit camps.

“It is common knowledge that intending pilgrims spend several days at various Hajj camps before their airlift to Saudi Arabia. Information at our disposal indicates that some of these camps need urgent renovation to make them more comfortable,” he stated.

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The group commended the governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Kaduna, and Sokoto States, as well as the FCT Minister, for their efforts in modernising and upgrading their Hajj transit facilities.

The group also acknowledged the Osun State government’s promise to build a world-class permanent Hajj transit camp and urged completion before the 2025 Hajj exercise.

“In other Hajj countries, pilgrims’ education and enlightenment sessions are usually held in Hajj camps to help them familiarise themselves with the process and their first point of stay before departure.

“We plead with state executives to renovate and upgrade the facilities in their various Hajj camps before the airlift, scheduled to begin in the last week of April this year,” the statement read.

The group further suggested that the camps could serve additional purposes, such as commercial ventures with hotels and event centres, generating revenue for both the pilgrims’ welfare boards and state governments.