The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has allocated 1,386 seats for Oyo State for next year hajj exercise.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare’s Board, Muslim Wing, Sheikh Hashim AbdulWahab Olamide Atere, after a meeting with the NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikirullahi Kunle Hassan, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Atere had earlier attended a meeting organized by the management of NAHCON for the chief executives of states Pilgrims Welfare Agencies, Boards and Commissions to review the 2023 hajj operations and then chart a way forward for 2024 at the Hajj House Abuja.
He stated that the board has commenced preparations for the 2024 hajj in earnest and in few days, plans would be rolled out for intending pilgrims in the state.
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 records a tremendous success for the spiritual exercise.
Sheikh Atere hinted that a lot of intending pilgrims with the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare’s Board has been depositing for next year hajj.
He therefore enjoined others who wish 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 fare’s announcement by NACHON.
Atere assured that there would not be any favoritism or discrimination, as the exercise will totally be on first come, first served basis.
Recall that NAHCON, had in a statement released early on Tuesday, prevised that next year hajj could be expensive, advising all Nigerians intending to travel for the exercise to save at least N4.5 million, pending when the commission will announce a final hajj fare.
NAHCON opined that the cost increment is due to the recent changes in the foreign exchange window, which has seen the dollar exchanged at an average of N750 to N800.
