The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has directed the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board to proceed with the 2024/1445 A. H. Hajj and Ramadan Umrah operations with the sales of forms to intending pilgrims.
This was disclosed by the Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju Layode in his office on Tuesday.
A statement signed by the Board Secretary, Mr. Olayiwola Saheed Onipede, quoted the Hon. Commissioner as saying that Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the directive for early commencement of the operations in order to build on the achievements recorded during the last exercise and provide improved service delivery for intending pilgrims.
Hon. Layode added that the early commencement would give every intending pilgrim ample opportunity to do the needful and carry out all necessary preparations within the timeframe given by the Saudi Arabian authorities before the commencement of the spiritual exercise in 2024.
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According to him, the cost of Hajj form is N20,000 while Ramadan Umrah form goes for N10,000.
He stressed further that the requirements expected from the intending pilgrims include; valid International passport, payment of initial deposit of N4.5million and medical screening to ascertain their health status, amongst others.
The Hon. Commissioner also emhasised that the initial deposit as earlier announced by the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barr. Zhikrullah Kunle Hassan still subsist. He however stated that if there would be need for any adjustment in the nearest future, the intending pilgrims and the general public would be informed accordingly.
While urging interested Muslims residing in the State and those from other States in Nigeria to hasten to obtain forms for either Hajj or Ramadan Umrah, he gave assurances that the State was committed to providing them with the enabling environment to carry out their spiritual obligations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seamlessly.
The statement urged any individuals, groups or organizations interested in performing the holy pilgrimages through Lagos State to contact the following numbers 08023300090, 08023311460 or 08023174373 for further enquiries.
Recall that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently announced the allocation of 950,000 Hajj seats to Nigeria for the 2024 exercise. On its part, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) allocated 3,517 slots to Lagos State.
