Intending Pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from Niger State in North Central Nigeria, have been informed to get in touch with Area Pilgrims Welfare Officers in their respective local government for the 2021 Hajj registration exercise.
In a statement to Voice Of Nigeria by the Spokesperson of the state Pilgrims Board, Mallam Hassan Idris who said the registration exercise is expected to end on or before the 30th of March, 2021.
He said payments for the Hajj fares were to be made through certified bank draft in line with the existing policy of the Board.
1,650 intending Pilgrims
The statement said the Executive Secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Umar Makun Lapai who has already directed all Area Pilgrims officers across the 25 Local Government areas of the State to strictly follow laid down procedures during the Registration exercise, maintained that about 1,650 intending Pilgrims from the State have already rolled over their payment from the 2020 Hajj registration.
“About 1,650 intending Pilgrims from Niger State have accepted to roll over their hajj fares for 2020 Hajj operations, which was cancelled by the Saudi authorities due to Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
The approved 2020 Hajj roll-over intending pilgrims list according to the statement is to be published in all the pilgrim’s area offices across the 25 Local government areas of the state for easier and proper planning in line with the existing policy of the board.
Already intending Pilgrims with incomplete Hajj fare deposits, have been urged to complete their deposits to the required amount of N1.5 Million before the registration date expires.
The executive secretary of the Niger state Pilgrims Board, Makun Lapai, who commended the recent development in Hajj affairs by the National Hajj Commission pointed out that the new Hajj savings scheme which was introduced to achieved hitch free hajj exercise by Nigerians, has come to stay in the state.
Nigeria was not able to participate in the 2020 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia, due to the COVID-19 pandemic globally, which prompted a partial participation in the performance of the hajj exercise last year.

Nigeria, according to the National Hajj Commission’s reports was exempted on the list of countries recently blacklisted from participating in 2021 spiritual exercise due to the level of COVID-19 in the countries.
A recent statement by the Chairman of The National Hajj commission Dr Zikirullah Kunle , raises hope for intending pilgrims from Nigeria with the recent procurement of Covid-19 vaccination by the Country.
“There is a high hope for Nigeria to be among the nations to participate in Hajj.
He adds that if Nigeria follows the recent release from Saudi Arabia of the countries listed as having higher risk, they would realize that the country has not been banned from Umrah participation this year.
Lateefah Ibrahim
