More than 50,000 pilgrims ready for 2024 Hajj- NAHCON

By Innocent Raphael

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has revealed that over 50,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims are ready for the 2024 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, made this known on Fruday at a press briefing held at Hajj House in Abuja.

Arabi disclosed that the commission was on course to conduct a successful Hajj operation no matter the challenges, reiterating Nigerian Muslims would perform the 2024 Hajj in massive figures, compared to previous ones.

Noting that the year’s Hajj preparations was one of the most difficult and peculiar ones, Arabi disclosed that the Federal Government had intervened in so many ways, especially with policies to support the commission in ensuring all plans are executed smoothly.

”You know in the past, we had the luxury of time to prepare at our own pace; But, this time around, the host which is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came up with the timeline that we have to work within,” he said.

“I made bold to say that there were a series of interventions that the government made in terms of policies to ensure that there is no unnecessary tension in the nation,” he stated.

The NAHCON Chairman added the commission plans to adopt a Hajj Savings Scheme programme to subsidize the seemingly overbearing costs of pilgrimage.

He further asserted that the commission would embark on programmes aimed at sensitising and enlightening intending pilgrims on better planning methods.

Earlier reports revealed that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had allocated 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria for the 2024 pilgrimage.