The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barrister AbdulGaniyu Ahmed, has reassured intending pilgrims from the state of the Board’s commitment towards the 2022 Hajj Pilgrimage.
AbdulGaniyu stated this on Wednesday while addressing news men in his office in Ilorin, the state capital.
“1600 people paid for Hajj in 2020 but could not embark on the journey due to the covid-19 outbreak and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) only gave Kwara State a slot of 1406 for this year’s Hajj” he said.
A statement sent to HAJJ REPORTERS by a spokesperson of the board, Mrs Jumoke Jimoh quoted Abdulganiyu saying that as a result of the increase in the cost of embarking on the journey, the Hajj fare amount increased from N1.5 million to N2.3 million.
He urged members of the public who have paid the initial amount to pay up the balance to enable the board take the next line of action.
However, IHR noticed that despite the call for those who made deposits to come to the board to pay up their balance, the Secretary announced on Wednesday May 11 that the portal for the payment has closed on May 7 and all who could not make up with the payment may have to wait till next year.
He disclosed that the Board does not have any new intake for this year’s Hajj due to the previous batch.
The Secretary also disclosed that the opening prayer for this year’s Hajj will be held in the premises of the Board on Thursday, this week.
