Plateau Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board Pledges To Intensify Effort To Conclude 2024 Intending Hajj
Yakubu Busari
The Director Hajj Operation of Plateau State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Dr Murtala Tsemba Magaji has appealed to 2024 intending Hajj that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Abuja instructed them to reduce the initial released 1,345 to 1,210.
He disclosed this in an exclusive interview while debunking reports that 135 intending Pilgrims will miss this year’s Hajj – officially as last week they received communication on the dateline of closing payment.
He explained further that the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board has given reasons why 135 intending Pilgrims who had made earlier deposits will miss this year’s Hajj based on communication available but requested an extension of time to enable them to fulfill their rights and obligations as Muslims.
Dr Magaji disclosed this following an outcry by the affected persons who trooped to the board on Friday to complete their balance as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), for closure on 28th March,2024.
“You would recall that the affected persons had claimed to have come to arrive at the board to complete the additional N1.918m, but neither the board executive secretary nor the director of finance and supply was present to attend to them.
Dr Tsemba Magaji said the affected persons were permitted to pay the balance because the dateline for the payment has expired and NAHCON had already given out the list of those to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise, which he said could not allow the board to secure the remaining seats.
He said, “Many intending pilgrims were not able to pay the initial Hajj deposit of 4,699,000m million up to the dateline given by the National Hajj Commission NAHCON, owning to hardship but the governor approved a loan of two billion naira for the board to secure the state quota”.
We were able to pay for the 1,345 seats allocated to the Plateau state, unfortunately, the issue of the increase came up and despite all odds, the Board was also able to pay for 1,210 slots to allow our intending pilgrim to pay at ease even after Closure by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
According to him, “The Board advertised on both TV and Radio for all intending pilgrims to take advantage of this effort and pay the Balance, only last week but the Board announced the closure of sales and completion of Hajj fare.
“For those who came to the Board with cash on Friday, honestly they have missed the chance according to the directives by NAHCON regarding the 2024 Hajj.
As National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has since announced the number of Pilgrims from Plateau State that completed their Hajj fare to 6, 617, 032,91k, “he said.
