The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will officially commence the sale of Hajj 2023 form from Monday February 6, 2023.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, disclosed this during a meeting with the intending pilgrims who could not perform the 2022 Hajj exercise owing to limited slots allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
While urging the intending pilgrims, especially those who have not completed the Hajj fare of N2, 640,000 paid in year 2022 to go ahead and raise a bank draft of N1, 340,000 in favour of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, he stressed that the Board would notify them if there would be any increment or reduction at the appreciate time.
He said that the state would not renege on its earlier promise of treating them with utmost priority before selling forms to new applicants.
He therefore, urged them to hasten up to get a new form (free of charge) through their respective Local Government coordinators for proper documentation, as well as updating their current information such as age, address and health status. This, he said, is due to the limited time given by the Saudi Arabian authority during the pre-Hajj visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in preparation for this year’s Hajj operation.
The commissioner sought their understanding in respect of any increment in the Hajj fare, saying the State was not in control of fixing the fare but the prerogative of the Saudi Arabian Government and the exchange rate of American dollar, which affects virtually everything including airline, accommodation and other necessary activities.
Unlike the 2022 exercise in which the slots given was grossly inadequate, thereby depriving many of the opportunity to perform the spiritual exercise, Elegushi expressed optimism that the State would be allocated enough slots that would accommodate more intending pilgrims.
The Board Chairman, Imam Shakiru Ayinde Gafar appreciated the intending pilgrims for honouring the invitation despite the short notice.
