By YUSUFU IDEGU, Jos

The Executive Secretary Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, and National Secretary of Executive Secretaries Forum (ESF) Barr Auwal Abdullahi has led other members of the board to receive their COVID-19 vaccination

All intending pilgrims from the state who are interested in performing the 2021 hajj operation from the state would be the next to take the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine against COVID-19.

According to a statement by Alhaji Sanusi Namu, the information officer of the board, the exercise is in response to strict conditions set by the Saudi authority for any country that must perform hajj operation in the holy land this year.

“The Board had earlier received a letter from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Abuja advising State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/ Commissions/and Agencies and their intending pilgrims to register and receive jabs of the vaccine in their respective states.

“This development followed an advisory letter from National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHDA) expressing fear that if intending pilgrims misses the first phase of vaccination, the time frame may be insufficient for them to receive the second dose before 2021 Hajj season.

“It is therefore recommended that intending pilgrims wishing to participate in the 2021 Hajj should seize the opportunity of the on-going exercise to be vaccinated, as it has become a pre requisite that no entry visa should be issued by the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia to anyone without been vaccinated.”

The Executive Secretary who was the first to receive a dose of the vaccine said management has made the vaccination compulsory for all staff of the board and all intending pilgrims from the state.

Barr Auwal expressed gratitude to the state governor Simon Lalong for always encouraging Muslims in the state to fulfil their religious obligations and respond to spiritual callings without hindrance.

He commended the Lalong administration for its religious tolerance and support which has made intending pilgrims from other states coming to Jos to register for their hajj operations.

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