The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allotted 1,386 seats for Oyo State in preparation for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. This announcement was made by Sheikh Hashim AbdulWahab Olamide Atere, the Chairman of Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare’s Board (Muslim Wing), following a meeting with Alhaji Zikirullahi Kunle Hassan, the Chairman of NAHCON, held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Atere had previously participated in a meeting organized by NAHCON’s management, which brought together Chief Executives of State Pilgrims Welfare Agencies, Boards, and Commissions to assess the 2023 Hajj Operations and strategize for the 2024 pilgrimage at Hajj House Abuja.
The Chairman revealed that the Board has commenced extensive preparations for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage and plans for prospective pilgrims within the state would be unveiled shortly.
Emphasizing the Board’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of pilgrims, Sheikh Hashim, who has received training in Saudi Arabia as an Islamic Scholar, pledged that his tenure would yield significant success for this spiritual journey.
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Sheikh Hashim further indicated that a substantial number of prospective pilgrims had already made deposits for the upcoming Hajj through the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare’s Board.
He encouraged others interested in participating in the pilgrimage with the Board to start making their deposits into the designated bank accounts for convenience, pending the official fare announcement by NAHCON.
Atere assured that the allocation of seats would be based solely on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no favoritism or discrimination.
It is worth noting that earlier on Tuesday, NAHCON issued a statement predicting a potential increase in the cost of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
The commission advised all Nigerian pilgrims to set aside a minimum of N4.5 million, pending the official announcement of the final Hajj fare. This cost increment is attributed to recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange market, with the dollar trading at an average rate of N750 to N800.
E-signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade.,
Commissioner for Information and Orientation,
Oyo State.
September 6, 2023.
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