The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has allocated 1386 seats for Oyo State for next year’s Hajj exercise.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare’s Board (Muslim Wing), Sheikh Hashim Atere, after a meeting with the chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikirullahi Kunle Hassan, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Atere had earlier attended a meeting organised by the management of NAHCON for the chief executives of state pilgrims welfare agencies, boards and commissions to review the 2023 Hajj operations, then chart a way forward to 2024 at Hajj House, Abuja.
He stated that the board had commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj in earnest and in a few days plans would be rolled out for intending pilgrims with the state.
READ ALSO: NERC approves increase in cost of prepaid metre
While reiterating the board’s commitment to the welfare of pilgrims from the state, the Saudi-trained Islamic scholar promised that the board under his watch would record a tremendous success for the spiritual exercise.
Sheikh Hashim Atere hinted that a lot of intending pilgrims with the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare’s Board had been depositing for next year’s Hajj.
He therefore enjoined others who wished to embark on the exercise with the board to start depositing to any of the designated bank accounts of the board, for convenience, pending the announcement of the fare by NACHON.
Atere assured that there would not be any favouritism or discrimination, as the exercise would totally be first come – first served.
Recall that NAHCON in a statement released early on Tuesday predicted that next year Hajj could be expensive and advised all Nigerians intending to travel for the exercise to save at least N4.5 million pending when the commission would announce a final Hajj fare.
The national body stated that the cost increment was due to the recent changes in the foreign exchange window that had seen the dollar exchanged at an average of N750 to N800.
