The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reiterated that pregnant women will not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s hajj.
The Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, disclosed this on Wednesday in a Hausa programme aired by a private radio station in Kaduna.
According to him, the Saudi authorities have equally threatened to fine Nigeria if the ban on pregnant women is breached.
He explained that the law had been there for a long time and would be sustained and enforced this year.
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“We will not allow any woman with pregnancy, no matter how small it is, to travel. This law has been there for a long time. Even though some pilgrims breached it in the past, this time around, we will make sure pregnant women never travel.
“The Saudi authorities have also warned us against allowing pregnant women to travel. In fact, they threatened to fine us if we go against the law,” he said.
The chairman further appealed to pregnant women planning to perform pilgrimage to shelve their plan for their safety and that of their unborn babies.
He also cautioned Nigerians from sponsoring elderly people who may find it difficult to perform hajj.
He said preparations were on top gear, and that the commission would commence airlift on June 15, 2024, with Kebbi pilgrims, saying the airlines would avoid Sudan airspace due to the ongoing conflict in that country.
According to him, over 65,000 intending pilgrims will perform the exercise this year.
Arabi also hoped that the majority of the pilgrims would land in Madina, instead of Jidda, this year.
He appealed to all the intending pilgrims to abide by the rules of the holy land, saying this is a very important journey for every Muslim.
