Hajj: Pay N4.5m before December 31 deadline, pilgrims’ board tells Muslims

The Edo State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board has charged Muslims who intend to go for this year’s pilgrimage to pay the N4.5 million Hajj fare before December 31. The board chairman, Sheik Ibrahim Oyarekhua, gave the charge in an interview with Daily Trust in Benin City He said the charge became necessary as the National […]

The Edo State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board has charged Muslims who intend to go for this year’s pilgrimage to pay the N4.5 million Hajj fare before December 31.

The board chairman, Sheik Ibrahim Oyarekhua, gave the charge in an interview with Daily Trust in Benin City

He said the charge became necessary as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) won’t accept payment beyond the December 31 deadline.

“I called on Muslims who intend to go for the 2024 Hajj to pay the N4.5 million before the December 31 deadline in order not to miss the Hajj operation,” he said.

Sheik Ibrahim lamented with the slow pace of Hajj fare the state may not exhaust the 430 slots allocated to it by NAHCON.

 “NAHCON allocated 430 slots to us but we may not exhaust them because currently, less than 100 have made payments. However, we are hoping to get 200 intending Muslims.

“We are appealing to those who want to sponsor their loved ones and those sponsoring themselves   to hasten up the payment so as to meet the deadline,” he said. 

 Sheik Ibrahim said the board has not relented in sensitising those with the intention to embark on the Hajj to hasten up their payment before the deadline set by NAHCON.

This is even as he disclosed that the NAHCON chairman has assured that they would do the very best to ensure Hajj fare would not go beyond the minimum deposit announced by the commission.