The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board

  • Lagos fixes N8.7m for Hajj fare

    Lagos fixes N8.7m for Hajj fare

    •Sets January 31 as deadline for payment

    Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced N8,784,085million as the Hajj fare for this year’s exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The new fare was announced by the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede, in a statement, sequel to the announcement by the Chairman/CEO National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh.

    In a statement by the Director, Public Affairs, Taofeek Lawal, the board urged intending pilgrims who had paid the initial deposit of N8.5m to pay the balance of N284,085, while those who had already obtained the intention form, but yet to pay the initial deposit, are enjoined to begin payment immediately, in order to be accommodated for the exercise.

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    Urging every intending pilgrim to pay the Hajj fare on or before the deadline of January 31, Onipede said NAHCON arrived at a specific fare for the respective zones in the country after the approval by Office of the Vice President.

    Empathising with the intending pilgrims on the harsh economic situation, the board’s secretary said raising such huge sum of money to embark on holy pilgrimage was not an easy task.

    He, however, encouraged them not to despair, saying Allah in His infinite mercy would replenish their pockets and reward them abundantly for answering His call.

    Onipede assured the intending pilgrims of the huge benefits they would gain by embarking on the holy pilgrimage with the state.

    He said the pilgrims would be accommodated in comfortable hotels nearer to the Haram (Kaabah) in Makkah and Masjid Nabawih (Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah.

    He added that the intending pilgrims would be airlifted by a reputable airline with world-class service delivery; provision of breakfast and dinner in local delicacies; regular spiritual counselling by Islamic clerics, among other benefits.

  • Board urges pilgrims to pay N399k balance

    Board urges pilgrims to pay N399k balance

    The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has fixed N4.9 million as the final cost for the this year’s Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The announcement is in conformity with the one as announced by the Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi over the weekend.

     Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, in a statement signed by the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede, urged the intending pilgrims, especially those that had fully paid the initial deposit of N4.5 million to endeavour to pay the balance of N399,000 on or before February 12, to meet up with the deadline given by NAHCON.

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    Expressing the state government’s regrets over the increment, Layode said that the development was least expected at a time when every Nigerian was trying hard to survive the economic downturn in the country as a result of the instability in the dollar to naira exchange rate.

    While pleading with the intending pilgrims to show understanding, he stated that the situation was beyond the control of the state government. He explained further that the expectation of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and other stakeholders was to have the initial deposit of N4.5 million reduced to the bearest minimum. He however, prayed that Allah would make the payment of the balance easy for them within the stipulated period and also make the spiritual exercise an acceptable one for them.

    The commissioner assured the intending pilgrims of a seamless exercise throughout their stay in the Holy Land.

    He affirmed that the state government had secured a conducive and comfortable accommodation befitting its status nearer to the Haram in Makkah, adding that other initiatives have also been put in place with a view to making the intending pilgrims enjoy maximum comfort whilst performing the Hajj rites.