2024 Hajj: Oyo Hajj Chairman, Atere visits NIS for seamless service

2024 Hajj: Oyo Hajj Chairman, Atere visits NIS for seamless service

As part of efforts aimed at ensuring seamless Hajj operations this year, the Chairman Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare’s Board (Muslim Wings), Sheikh Hashim Atere, led a delegation of the Hajj body on a visit to the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Sheikh Atere met with Mr. A. K. Ademola, pcc, fsi, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command, along with the Board’s Secretary, Alhaja Khadijat Olanipekun, and a few board members, to solicit the NIS’s support in accelerating the issuance of international passports for the State’s intending pilgrims.

In his remarks, the Chairman described the NIS as a critical stakeholder in Hajj’s operation while acknowledging the significance of passport usage for the service,

He called on the Immigration Service to quickly expedite action on the processing/issuance of international passport to intending pilgrims to avoid delays, adding that it became imperative as Saudi Arabia had established deadlines for every step leading up to this year’s Hajj.

Reacting, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. A. K. Ademola, gave an assurance that NIS is always prepared to provide seamless services to the Pilgrims Board for successful operations in the state’s best interest.

He reassured the Board Chairman of the NIS’ commitment to assisting the Hajj body in conducting a successful Hajj operation.

He added that firm instruction had been given to passport offices in the state to facilitate the issuance of passports to intending pilgrims.

This, according to the Immigration Comptroller General, was to avoid disenfranchising any qualified individuals from travelling for the pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabia.

Ademola, however, thanked the Pilgrims Welfare’s Board (Muslim Wings) led by Sheikh Hashim Atere for the visit and assured that NIS would do everything necessary to solidify the cordial relationship between the two agencies in order to ensure effective hajj operations.