Kazeem Owoseni
The National Hajj Commission has set Friday, April 21 as the deadline for the completion of this year’s hajj payment for intending pilgrims, who have made an initial deposit for the forthcoming hajj with the Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, to complete their payment.
A statement by the public relations officer of the board, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, said the deadline was to enable the board to comply with the deadline set by NAHCON for all states and the FCT, in respect of payment of Hajj fares for this year.
NAHCON had on Friday announced N2,919,000 as Hajj fares for pilgrims from the FCT this year, emphasizing that only those who made the complete payment by the deadline would be registered in the master list for this year’s Hajj exercise.
The statement also explained that completing the amount as required, would enable the board to continue with other travel arrangements as well as the deadline for the balance of payment to NAHCON.
He added that intending pilgrims, upon completion of their payment, would be given the chance to choose the flight they want to join during the airlift to Saudi Arabia on a first-come-first-served basis.
However, he disclosed that this year’s Hajj orientation exercise would continue on April 29–30, with the second phase of the education and orientation exercise at the Permanent Hajj Transit Camp, Bassan Jiwa, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.