For the second time in a row, there will be no Hajj for Muslims because of fear of COVID-19.
The federal government, yesterday, confirmed this in a statement issued by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The commission said its officials in Saudi Arabia had confirmed the development, which was reported by state television and radio stations in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia had announced the need to limit the annual Muslim spiritual rites to only 60,000 pilgrims and strictly to Saudi citizens and foreigners residing in the country as a precaution to obviate the spread of COVID-19.
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A statement by the Ministries of Health and Hajj, Saturday, said the decision was “based on the Kingdom’s constant keenness to enable the guests and visitors at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque perform the rituals of Hajj and Umrah.”
While noting that, “The Kingdom puts human health and safety first,” the ministries said those wishing to perform Hajj must be free of any chronic diseases, and to be within the ages from 18 to 65 years for those vaccinated against the virus according to the Kingdom’s vaccination measures.