Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has concluded arrangements to hold a stakeholders’ meeting with intending pilgrims, officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.
A statement yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said the meeting was scheduled to discuss increase in Hajj fare as announced by NAHCON in respect of the Y2022 Hajj to the Holy Land.
Elegushi said the meeting would come up shortly after the Eid-El-Fitr celebrations, adding that the date would be communicated to all concerned in due course.
“We implore intending pilgrims to attend this important stakeholders’ meeting when called, to clarify issues and clear grey areas. We assure them of continued better service and assistance in the course of carrying out this important pillar of Islam,” he said.
NAHCON said the increase was necessitated by increase in Foreign Exchange (FOREX) rate, Value Added Tax from Saudi Arabia and cost of aviation fuel.
One thousand four hundred and three intending pilgrims from Kwara State are expected to perform the 2022 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Executive Secretary of Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji AbdulGaniyi Ahmed, made this known yesterday in Ilorin during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said NAHCON had agreed on how it would distribute the 43,000 seats allocated to Nigeria out of the one million seats allocated to all the countries worldwide by the Saudi Arabian authorities.