The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has allocated 95,000 hajj slots to Nigeria for the 2024 hajj exercise.
Same number was granted Nigeria in 2023 and the country was able to fill all its slots, Dateline Nigeria reports
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has since distributed hajj seats to the states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and armed forces.
Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states top the list with 6,004; 5,934; and 4,996 respectively.
Kebbi got 4,752; Katsina 4,513, FCT 4,368. Lagos 3,517; Osun 1,764; and Oyo 1,386. Ogun got 1,191; Ondo 491; Ekiti 246 Imo 199; Delta 67; Bayelsa 58; Edo 412; Cross-River 64; Anambra 15 and Enugu 14.
The Chairman of NAHCON Alhaji. Zikrullah Kunle Hassan gave the allocation figures on Tuesday during an engagement with heads of state pilgrims agencies and tour operators in Abuja.
He said intending pilgrims should expect high cost of Hajj 2024 fare due to the fluctuating nature of foreign exchange to local currency as the final fare would be determined by dollar exchange, cost of air fair and services in Saudi Arabia.
“For next year’s Hajj, issuance of visa will be closed 40 days before Arafah. Unlike our tradition where we would issue visa to VIP few days to Arafah. That practice is over.
“With the allocation of seats to states preparation has commenced. Of course, we are still addressing some challenges faced during the last hajj in the area of limited space and shortage of food at Muna, we have written formal complaints demanding for refund and apology. While awaiting that, we have forging ahead with 2024 exercise”.
