Nigeria's Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board may not sell form for next year’s hajj’

Published 27 Aug,2021 via The Nation - The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board may not sell forms for intending pilgrims for next year’s Hajj.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, during a briefing yesterday at Alausa, said the state already had 3,016 intending pilgrims registered for the already cancelled 2020/2021 hajj exercises.

Prince Elegushi said unless the Saudi Arabia and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) give the state additional slots, it might not be feasible to add to those already registered.

Elegushi stated that only 69 intending pilgrims out of 3,085 requested for refund of their N1,300,000 deposit.

Their refund, he said, will be made once Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gives approval.

The commissioner urged all the 3,016 intending pilgrims to have faith and trust that the state government would do everything possible to protect their interest and they would not be disappointed.

Answering question on why the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board focuses only on Umrah (lesser hajj) during Ramadan and not the year round, Prince Elegushi said the Board was working towards getting the International Air Transport Association (IATA) licence to be able to fully operate the Umrah throughout the year. He assured that once this is achieved, the Board will operate at full scale.

On the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), he said 164 people have embraced the scheme from Lagos State, adding efforts are in place to bring more people on board.

He gave assurances that the state would continue to deploy the best of her resources and manpower towards achieving a comprehensive and rewarding Hajj exercise for her intending pilgrims.

Executive Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Rahman Ishola thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and Prince Elegushi for supporting the board.

He said the support of the present administration has greatly assisted the board in actualising its mission.

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