2024: Kano declares sale of Hajj seats open, initial deposit N4.5m

By solacebase.com On Oct 12, 2023

Saudi Arabia, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Laminu Rabiu Danbappa , NAHCON, hajj — Director-General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabiu Danbappa , addressing journalists on Thursday.

By Muhammad Muhammad

Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced collection of an initial deposit of N4.5m for the 2024 Hajj exercise from intending pilgrims.

SOLACEBASE reports that the Board Director-General, Alhaji Laminu Rabiu Danbappa announced this on Thursday at a news conference where he unveiled the report of the 2023 Hajj exercise.

Dabappa said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed pilgrims board to complete the collection of payment and visa arrangements before April 29^th, 2024, which would be 50 days before Arafat.

‘’The seat allotment to Nigeria for 2024 Hajj is 95,000 where Kano was allotted 5,934 seats. And in line with practice 60% of the seats are for conventional allotment of intending pilgrims that complete payment before the closing date, while 40% allotment are for Hajj Saving Scheme,’’ the Pilgrims Board DG said.

He said the board would give consideration to intending pilgrims for 2023 who paid but could not secure visa to perform this year’s Hajj whereby they would need to pay the addition to meet the N4.5m initial deposit for 2024.

‘’The centre officers have been directed to commence collection of receipt of payment as intending pilgrims are not expected to pay cash to anybody but rather slip of payment to banks would be needed.’’

The Director General noted that intending pilgrims for next year may be expected to pay more than the N4.5m or may be refunded if the federal government grants access to Dollar for the Commission at a concession rate as over 90% of expenditure for Hajj are in foreign currency not in Naira.

Speaking on the 2023 Hajj report, Alhaji Laminu Danbappa said 6,167 pilgrims performed the Hajj exercise from the state out of which 3 died including 2 males and a female.

‘’Three of the pilgrims from Kano died during the Hajj while a pilgrim is at the hospital in Saudi Arabia recuperating now. The governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has granted our request for one of the family of the pilgrim to be able to visit the sick in Mecca. The pilgrim, Umar Mustapha is from Warawa local government area of the state.’’

The DG who highlighted some of the challenges during the 2023 Hajj including over-sales of Hajj seat, visa delay that was not peculiar to the state alone, accommodation that was secured for pilgrims which was a bit far from Haram, and feeding.

‘’Most of these issues were inherited from the administration that handed over to us though we were able to address most of them.’’

However, Alhaji Danbappa said necessary mechanisms have been put in place to address the challenges in the coming year.

He added that the board is expecting a refund from the NAHCON over services not rendered to Kano pilgrims that were paid for and the same would be return to the pilgrims immediately the issue is addressed.