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The Osun State Ministry of Home Affairs has recorded an over-subscription of slots allocated to it by the National Commission on Hajj for the 2017 pilgrimage.
While the state was initially awarded 917 slots, the state demanded for an extra 48 slots, which were also filled up by intending pilgrims from the state.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Obawale Adebisi, while speaking at a programme where Governor Rauf Aregbesola bid farewell to the pilgrims performing this year’s hajj.
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The governor said the development is a sign that the economy of Osun is not as precarious as being made to look to outsiders.
A statement from the Office of the Special Adviser, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said: “Pilgrims to Mecca paid a sum of N1, 180,000 last year, while 2017 pilgrims are paying a sum of N1, 548,153.43 for the 2017 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. A total of 724 pilgrims performed hajj last year from Osun, while year 2017 has recorded 1,065 pilgrims with the possibilities of other additions.”
