The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced N4, 899,000.00 as the final cost for the 2024 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
This announcement comes after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) made a nationwide adjustment to Hajj fares.
NAHCON management had said intending pilgrims from the Southern Region would pay N4,899,000.00; those from the Northern Region would pay N4,699,000.00.
While pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri Centre would pay N4,679,000.00 for the 2024 Hajj.
Meanwhile, the Lagos state government, through the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, expressed regrets over the increment.
Layode urged the intending pilgrims who had already paid the N4.5 million deposit to settle the remaining N399,000 by February 12th, 2024, to meet NAHCON’s deadline.
He noted that the development was least expected at a time when citizens are trying hard to survive the country’s economic downturn due to the instability in the dollar-naira exchange rate.
The commissioner stated that the situation was beyond the state government’s control, adding that the government and other stakeholders expected the N4.5 million initial deposit to be reduced.
Layode also assured the intending pilgrims of seamless exercise throughout their stay in the Holy Land, noting that the government has secured a conducive and comfortable accommodation befitting its status nearer to the Haram in Makkah.
He added that other initiatives have been put in place to make the intending pilgrims enjoy maximum comfort while performing the Hajj rites.
