Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has allocated 1386 seats to Oyo State for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
The Chairman of Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Sheikh Hashim Atere, disclosed this after a meeting with the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikirullahi Hassan, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
A statement signed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, says Atere had earlier attended a meeting organised by the Management of NAHCON for the Chief Executives of State Pilgrims Welfare Agencies, Boards & Commissions, to review the 2023 Hajj Operations, then chart a way forward to 2024, at the Hajj House, Abuja.
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Atere stated that the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board had commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj in earnest, disclosing that plans would be rolled out for intending pilgrims from the state in a few days.
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.
Atere hinted that a lot of intending pilgrims with the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board had been depositing for next year’s 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 favouritism or discrimination, as the exercise would be on a first come – first served basis.
NAHCON had, in a statement released early on Tuesday, said 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 opined that the cost increment was due to the recent changes in the foreign exchange window which has seen the dollar exchanged at an average of N750 to N800.
