By Mama A. Touray
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs through its Permanent Secretary Buba Sanyang has released a presser that Hulool Umrah is not a licensed operator for the 2023 Hajj with the Gambia Hajj Commission.
The release stated that the Ministry and Hajj Commission wishes to make it clear to the public that HULOOL UMRAH & HAJJ (Gambia) is not an officially licensed operator for this year’s Hajj with the National Hajj Commission and is not operating within the Gambia’s 2023 Hajj quota of 2000 pilgrims.
It stated further in the press release that “It has unfortunately come to their attention that one agency called HULOOL UMRAH & HAJJ (Gambia) claimed to be a Hajj and Umrahoperator and had taken a significant amount of money from innocent Gambians with a promise of securing them a Hajj visa as well as transporting them for Hajj this year.”
According to the permanent secretary, there are twelve agencies officially licensed as operators for this year’s Hajj. “These are; Crossbreed Holding Company, Alhuda Travel, Continental Travel, Algasimou Travel Agency, Amana Travel, Banjul Travel Agency, Tivaquane Travel and Tours, Orbit Travel Agency, Maya Global Travel, Travel Express Agency, Alfaz Travel Agency and Gambia International Airline (GIA)”.
The release added that anyone who has effected payment for this year’s hajj to any agency other than the 12 agencies is not within the 2000 official pilgrims quota allocated to The Gambia by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the supervision of the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs and the National Hajj Commission.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, and the National Hajj Commission on behalf of the Government of the Gambia notified the public that the official 2000 pilgrims for Gambia’s 2023 Hajj quota have all obtained their Hajj visas and have all successfully traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, and the National Hajj Commission assured the public that they will liaise with relevant stakeholders to investigate this matter and that appropriate actions will be taken against anyone found wanting.