The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON has allocated 33,976 slots to all 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for 2022 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, announced the allocation during a meeting with Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies and commissions in Abuja.
The National HAJJ Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) emergency meeting with Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agencies/Boards&Commissions to discuss the 43,008 Hajj 2022 quota given to Nigeria by Saudi Arabia today Thursday 21st April 2022 at Hajj House Abuja. pic.twitter.com/QSABvin6GG
— Nigeria Hajj Commission (@nigeriahajjcom) April 21, 2022
Hassan said that the commission decided to allocate the seats after careful deliberations and considerations of the 2019 Hajj performance.
He said that the commission also allocated 9,032 slots to the licensed private tour operators as well as 239 slots to the Armed Forces.
”On Sunday, April 17, 2022, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria received an official confirmation from the Saudi Arabian Ministry for Hajj that there will be Hajj 2022. We also received that the 2022 Hajj allocation to Nigeria is 43,008
Prior to that, we have received medical guidelines from Saudi Arabia, which we have transmitted to all the states and FCT,” he said.
The Chairman said that all intending pilgrims must be registered online through e-hajj, adding that the e-track was already active.
”In due course we shall release the registration guidelines and every registration procedures shall be strictly in accordance with the guidelines. Saudi Arabia has indicated that anybody above 65 years must not be allowed to perform Hajj.
All intending pilgrims must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. By full vaccination I mean the three doses and of course PCR is mandatory.
”Unlike now we are doing Umrah (lesser Hajj) without PCR, for Hajj it will be PCR and Saudi Arabia is saying 24hours, we are going to work on possibly 48hours, before embarking on the trip,” he said.
Hassan urged executives of states pilgrims boards to expedite action to ensure timely completion of registration of intending pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory was allocated 1537 seats for this year’s Hajj exercise in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, said the Director of the board, Mallam Muhammad Nasiru Danmallam disclosed this while briefing top management staff of the Board in his office after a meeting with NAHCON and states chief executives of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Commissions and Agencies.
The Director advised those who made deposit in respect of the Hajj to ensure that their deposits get up to 2.5 Million before the conclusion of the final hajj fare.
He explained that due to current realities, the cost for this year’s hajj is projected to be about 2.5 Million and therefore stressed the need for the intending Pilgrims to top up their deposit and await final hajj fare after conclusion with service providers in Saudi Arabia.
Mallam Danmallam therefore advised intending Pilgrims to avail themselves with the opportunity and get acquainted with the knowledge on hajj and relevant policies for the exercise.
The breakdown of the Hajj slots allocated to each states indicates that Kaduna State got 2,491, Kano State 2,229, FCT, 1,537, Ondo State 191, Nasarawa 684, Zamfara State 1,303, Katsina state 2,146, among others.
