Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced a mandatory polio vaccination for all intending pilgrims for the year 2025.
This announcement was made by The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulrahman Idris, on Tuesday during a press briefing at the board’s headquarters in Bauchi.
Idris reiterated that all the 2,200 intending pilgrims who registered with the board for this year’s Holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia must receive polio vaccines six weeks before departure.
While warning that any pilgrim who failed to receive the vaccine will not be allowed to travel, The Board Secretary said “this directive comes from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria as part of measures to ensure the health and safety of Nigerian pilgrims.”
According to Idris, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has closed this year’s Hajj registration, and all necessary travel documents, luggage, uniforms, and other essentials will be ready within two weeks.
“NAHCON has also closed this year’s Hajj registration for intending pilgrims and all the necessary travel documents, including luggage, uniforms, bags and other essential items will be in place in the next two weeks”, he said.
He urged those who have not submitted their forms with a white background copy of their passport photographs to do so immediately, to obtain a visa from Saudi Arabia.
The chairman equally urged pilgrims to support the board to ensure a successful Hajj exercise.
Meanwhile, reports said, those who have not completed their Hajj fare payment have been granted the window to either collect their money or leave it in the board’s account until next year.
