Lagos, Nigeria - Intending female pilgrims from Oyo State will be screened to prevent pregnant women from performing the Hajj, Sheikh Lukman Busari, chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims' Welfare Board, said.
Busari told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan yesterday that the measure was necessary to avoid health complications for pregnant women and avoid a violation of Saudi Arabia rules, which forbid pregnant women from performing Hajj.
The chairman recalled that a woman carrying a two-month-old pregnancy was discovered during screening by the board's medical team last year and said that stringent measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence.
"There is a rule now that any state that brings any pregnant woman to hajj will be sanctioned by the federal government.
"The rule started last year and we have our medical personnel to check the women.
"The women must appear for the screening because we need physical appearance for them to be screened by the doctors. The result will then be given to the board even before the processing of travel documents."
Meanwhile, the board has made 50 per cent advance payment for the 2010 Hajj to the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), thus making Oyo State the first to comply with the directive.
He said the state would take 1,500 pilgrims to the pilgrimage, adding that the prospective pilgrims paid a tentative fare of N421, 000 each for the exercise, pending when NAHCON would announce the fare.
Busari said that the board had concluded arrangements for the pilgrims' accommodation, transportation and welfare in Saudi Arabia.
The chairman said poor electricity supply to the state Hajj camp, pilgrims avoiding inoculation, e-passport and crowd control are some of the problems facing the board.