By Ademola Orunbon
The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has sought the continued support of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ogun State Command, on timely issuance of passports to pilgrims, for a successful 2024 Hajj exercise.
Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Dauda Salau, who said this during a visit to the Command at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, intimating the Command on the new Saudi Arabia policy on visa issuance, which would commence from Friday, March 1 to Monday, April 29, 2024, which would necessitate the Command to fast-track intending pilgrims’ passports in order to meet the deadline.
While appreciating NIS for its yearly support for the Board, the Executive Secretary, according to the Press Officer MPWB, Mrs. Lateefhat Ayoola, pointed out that the agency remains a key stakeholder in Hajj operations, saying other arrangements had been made to ensure a successful exercise.
Responding, the state Comptroller, NIS, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Bosede, said the agency understands the essence of collaboration with the Board, assuring that necessary effort would be made to forestall any hitch in the issuance of passports to intending pilgrims.
She implored prospective pilgrims to start processing their passports early to enable the Command accelerate the issuance.