By Stanley Onyekwere
As part of the preparations for the 2026 Hajj, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abuja is set to commence the education and orientation exercise for Intending Pilgrims this weekend.
An e-signed statement from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Board, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, said the first phase of the orientation exercise is billed to take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively, at the FCT Permanent Hajj camp located at Basan Jiwa close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to him, Islamic scholars have already been mobilized for the exercise to prepare the intending pilgrims for a smooth Hajj exercise.
He explained that the exercise would be conducted in phases and in seven languages as usual to enable the Intending Pilgrims get acquainted with the hajj rites as well as new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi Authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The PRO disclosed that the Board has already mapped out strategies to educate the intending pilgrims on the religious exercise, especially as new policies were introduced by the Saudi Arabian government this year which are more challenging to the success of the journey.
He advised intending pilgrims from the Territory for this year’s Hajj to participate in all programmes organized by the Board, as they are aimed to assist them to attain acceptable hajj.
Furthermore, the PRO urged all intending pilgrims, to take advantage of the exercise to get value for their money by attaining proper guidance on the journey, enhance their Islamic knowledge on Hajj rites and discharge their religious obligations in accordance to the Islamic doctrines.
He noted that the board is billed to conduct compulsory medical screening for all intending pilgrims from Monday 12th January, 2026 at the permanent hajj camp.
He stressed that the screening would enable the board to determine the health status of all intending pilgrims which is one of the major equipments for the issuance of visa by Saudi Arabia this year.
The statement adds: “Intending pilgrims from Gwagwalada, Kwali and Abaji Area councils would undergo the medical screening on Monday 12/01/2016 while Intending Pilgrims from Kuje, Bwari and Abuja Municipal would be screened on Tuesday 13/01/2026.
“ Intending Pilgrims that registered through Headquarters, JAIZ and Annex would have their screening exercise on Wednesday 14/01/2026 at the Hajj camp”.
According to the statement, the compulsory medical screening exercise would be conducted from 8 o’clock in the morning each day and strongly warned that without the medical screening, the Board would not be able to secure pilgrims’ visa to Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman also warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their international Passports to do so immediately to enable the Board commence the process of their travel documents.
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