The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has confirmed that no fewer than 51,447 Nigeria’s intending pilgrims will perform the 2024 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Recall that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had allocated 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for this year’s pilgrimage, the exact number of Nigerians that performed the 2023 hajj.
The executive chairman of the commission, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, disclosed this during the breaking of Ramadan fast with media representatives at Hajj House on Friday night in Abuja.
Arabi said, the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government played a leading role, especially with policies to support the commission in the realisation of its noble objectives, adding that the commission was on course to conduct a successful Hajj operation regardless of the challenges.
“This year’s Hajj preparation is one of the most difficult and peculiar ones. In the past, we had the luxury of time to prepare at our own pace but this time around, the host which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came up with the timeline that we have to work within.
“Government has a responsibility to keep the nation one, devoid of chaos and rancour, and I make bold to say that there were a series of interventions that the government made in terms of policies to ensure that there was no unnecessary tension in the nation.
“So, we recognise the numerous sacrifices that the Federal Government made against all odds towards easing the constraints off its intending pilgrims. The commission also commends the patience exhibited by the pilgrims that were caught up in the uncertainties,” Arabi said.
He added that going forward, long term planning would be given a proirity and urged the stakeholders to key into the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), saying it is the surest method to adopt.
“NAHCON has always known that long term planning has been the workable strategy that would have subdued the challenges that slowed down the yearly Hajj preparations. Going forward, long term planning will be the commission’s paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations.
“Thank God that the NAHCON Act allows Hajj Savings Scheme, now fully in operational and it is a reality that all Hajj stakeholders must key into it to avert unforeseen Hajj fare challenges that are usually determined by global economic realities.”
Meanwhile, the breakdown of the number of intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise state-by-state released on Saturday by the commission indicated that Kaduna and Sokoto States have the highest number with 4,493 and 3,643 respectively.
