The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has began the sales of 2024 Hajj seats and pegged the fare at an initial minimum deposit of N4.5 million.
The agency therefore directed its Hajj Registration Officers across the 23 local councils to commence full registration of intending pilgrims.
This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Faruku Umar,
Head of Information and Communications of the
agency.
The announcement signaled the full commencement of preparation for next year’s pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the State Government.
Addressing the newly constituted board members of the agency, the Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Musa Gusau, said the exercise in compliance with the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to states pilgrims boards. This is enabled them beat the deadline given by Saudi Arabia and subsequent approval by the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu.
The chairman confirmed that Sokoto state was allocated 4,994 seats for next year’s pilgrimage and that they would be allocated to intending pilgrims and enrollees of Hajj Savings Schemes on 60 and 40 per cent ratio, respectively.
Alhaji Aliyu Musa Gusau assured those who made payments for 2023 Hajj but were unable to secure visa for the spiritual exercise would be given priority for next year’s pilgrimage, adding that an automatic slot will be provided to those who left their money with the agency.
He announced December 2023 ending as deadline for the N4.5 million deposit for interested persons.
On the high-cost of 2024 fare, the chairman explained that over 90 percent of Hajj components, including accommodation, feeding and transport, depended largely on dollars.
He however regretted the weak strength of Naira against Dollar, which he attributed as responsible for the sudden fare hike.
The chairman, who noted some of the challenges recorded during the last pilgrimage, assured that 2024 would be a clear departure from previous experiences.
He said the agency had launched the preparations for Hajj 2024 and have initiated the sale of the seats after completing the allocation of 60 per cent of the seats to the 23 local government areas of the state.
