There would only be 1,191 Ogun State residents permitted to complete the Hajj ceremonies in 2024.
In preparation for the pilgrimage the following year, the State was given 1,191 Hajj seats by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board’s Executive Secretary, Salau Babatunde, stated that the places would be distributed among aspiring pilgrims on a “first come, first served” basis.
Babatunde claimed NAHCON has announced N4.5 million as the initial deposit for the 2024 pilgrimage to Mecca, pending the declaration of the final fare, when he made this revelation on Monday in Abeokuta.
The Board Chairman also stated that the N4.5 million would be paid by bank drafts or by putting directly into designated bank accounts using bank tellers located at the Board.
In order to satisfy the current initial Hajj deposit, he asked individuals who had already made some deposits during the 2023 Hajj to top them off.
Babatunde reaffirmed that the state government is taking all necessary steps to make sure the spiritual journey is a memorable and fruitful activity, saying “all hands are on deck.”
He recommended potential pilgrims to make their initial hajj deposits as soon as possible because the previous method of processing visas has changed.
The Chairman announced that Saudi Arabia must henceforth complete the visa issue process at least 50 days prior to Arafat.
In order to obtain further information, Babatunde recommended prospective pilgrims to go to the Board’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to Platinum Times, 1,238 Ogun pilgrims participated in the Hajj in 2023.