The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will commence the sale of the 2023 Hajj forms on Monday.
At a recent meeting in Ikeja held with the intending pilgrims who could not perform the 2022 Hajj exercise, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi urged those who had not completed the payment of their 2022 Hajj fare of N2.64 million to raise a bank draft of N1.34 million in favour of the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for the balance.
Those affected could not embark on the pilgrimage due to the limited slots allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The commissioner told the intending pilgrims that the Board would notify them of any increment or reduction at the appropriate time.
Elegushi said that the state would not renege on its earlier promise of giving them priority before selling forms to new applicants, adding that they should hurry up to get new forms (free of charge) through their respective Local Government coordinator for proper documentation, and also update their current information such as age, address and health status due to the limited time given by the Saudi Arabian Authority for processing.
The Commissioner sought their understanding regarding any future increment in the Hajj fare, saying the state was not in control of fixing the haji fare as it is the prerogative of the Saudi Arabia government and a function of the United States dollar exchange rate, which affects virtually everything including airline fare, accommodation and other essential activities.
Informing that, unlike the year 2022 exercise when slots given were grossly inadequate and thus deprived many of the opportunity of performing the spiritual exercise, Elegushi expressed optimism that the state would be allocated enough slots this year to accommodate more intending pilgrims.
In attendance at the meeting were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs Lolade Aina; and the Chairman of the Board, Engr. (Imam) Shakiru Ayinde Gafar, among others.
