The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced that it will close collection of payment of balance and complete package for 2024 Hajj on Monday, February 12.
The Director General of the board, Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa made the announcement at the flag off of this year’s Hajj enlightenment programme, locally known as Bita in the state on Saturday.
He said based on the new policies by Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has directed that all payments of the balance and for the purchase of seat should be complete by Monday.
He warned that any person who fail to complete the payment after initial deposit of N4.5 million, or pay the whole N4,699 million, risks missing out on this year’s Hajj.
Danbappa also disclosed that the board had so far sold 2300 Hajj seats out of the 5934 allocated to the state by NAHCON.
He explained that 2,300 intending pilgrims paid N4.5 million and above whole 300 paid below N4.5 million.
He therefore urged on the depositors to endeavor to complete the payment, or those that are willing to pay for the whole package to do so before the Monday deadline.
“The national Hajj Commission has allocated 5,934 Hajj seats allocated to Kano state. But due to economic challenges, the seats are yet to be sold all, while the Saudi deadline for remitting the total amount of money generated from the sale of the seats is end of this month.
“The NAHCON also asked all state pilgrims welfare boards to complete collection of balance and payment of the whole package by Monday.
“I therefore, urged all those that had paid their deposit and want to pay the balance, or even those that are willing to pay to quickly do so before the Monday deadline, otherwise you risk missing this year’s Hajj,” he said.
He said the board hasld completed all the necessary arrangements for the 2024 Hajj operations both in Kano and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, assuring the pilgrims that they would get value for their money.
He charge the intending Pilgrims to intensify efforts in ensuring regular attendance for the Hajj orientation exercise.
He said the exercise would be conducted weekly at 13 centres across the state.
The DG commended the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf for his support and commitments to ensure proper arrangements for this year’s Hajj exercise.
In his remarks, the governor urged the intending pilgrims to use the opportunity of the orientation exercise to learn deeply about Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The governor also urged them to pray for Kano and Nigeria as a whole during the Hajj and beyond, calling on them to be good ambassadors of Kano and Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.
