Free SIM Cards for Nigeria Pilgrimages to Saudi this Year

Arrangement has been concluded by the Saudi authorities in conjunction with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to distribute 100,000 free mobile phone SIM cards of Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC) to all Nigerian intending pilgrims for this year's hajj operation.

Chairman of Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Commission Alhaji Mamman Mohammad made said during a stakeholders meeting in Minna yesterday that the wisdom behind the issuing of the SIM cards from Nigeria was to enable the intending pilgrims to exchange numbers with their family members as well as to call back home immediately on arrival to Saudia Arabia. Each SIM, he said, will be loaded with five Saudi Riyals.

He further stated that the pilgrims are at liberty to change to the services of other local network providers, should they found the service of STC not palatable while in the holy land, saying the distribution of the SIM cards would soon commenced.

"We are assuring the intending pilgrims that the commission shall investigate the concept of the free SIM cards to ascertain of whether there is any hidden charges associated with the scheme in order to safeguard their interest", he said.

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