Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (OGMPWB) has called for prompt vaccination and fast-tracking of the issuance of e-vaccination yellow card, so as to allow intending pilgrims partake maximally in yearly hajj exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Salau Dauda made the call during a visit to the Port Health Services at the Federal Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Alhaji Dauda said the process becomes imperative to enable the Board cater for the slots allocated by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the State, which had increased to 1,139 compared to 512 it got last year.
The Board Secretary who described the Service as one of the key agencies of government in yearly Hajj operation, stated that its support would improve service delivery on the preliminary protocols in the course of performing the pilgrimage.
According to Salau, “We have commenced 2023 Hajj exercise. Unlike last year, when we had post COVID-19 operation to test-run how hajj activities would be after the pandemic. This year’s operation is quite different from that of last year, Saudi Arabia authority has opened the door to all cadres of people, no upper age limit, but there is minimum age limit of 12 years old, once you are physically fit, mentally sound, emotionally stable with the capacity to perform the holy pilgrimage, as well as having e-Yellow fever vaccination card, such person is good to go”.
Responding, the Director of Port Health Services in the State, Mr. Emmanuel Taiwo said the issuance of e-Yellow fever vaccination card is the exclusive right of the Federal Government for the purpose of the accountability, adding that the Service has the mandate to monitor only.
Mr. Emmanuel appreciated the Board for the visit, assuring that all the anomalies during 2022 Hajj would be corrected with its maximum support for hitch-free hajj exercise, noting that “this kind of synergy should continue. Call me anytime, I will answer you, all my staff are also available and I want to assure you that everything will go accordingly, and I really commend the Board for the success recorded during the 2022 Hajj”.