The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has released the final number of intending pilgrims who paid for the 2024 Hajj.
In a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Fatima Sanda Usara, stated that after the closing of registration, the official number of intending pilgrims that registered stood at 51,447 under the government quota.
She said, commendably, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government played a role in the realization of the noble objective.
“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) recognizes the numerous sacrifices that the Federal Government made against all odds towards easing the constraints off its intending pilgrims,” she said.
Usara also commended the patience exhibited by the pilgrims who were caught up in the uncertainties.
“The concern demonstrated by the Ulamas over the pilgrims’ predicament did not go unnoticed by the Commission. Several stakeholders, including state governors, rendered solutions out of the gridlock.
“Some media houses showed tremendous understanding of the constraints which literally exposed the reality of the quagmire the 2024 Hajj was confronting. Indeed, 2024 Hajj preparations came with unexpected challenges from which lessons have been learnt,” she said.
“Going forward, long-term planning will be the Commission’s paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations. It is a reality that all Hajj stakeholders must cue in to avert unforeseen challenges.”
The breakdown of the number of registered intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise by states released on Saturday indicated that Kaduna and Sokoto States have the highest number of registered intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj.
The list released by the Commission on Saturday disclosed as follows: Adamawa 1,642; Borno 1,780; Taraba 950; Yobe 1,120; Bauchi 2,315; Benue 87; Ekiti 186; FCT. 2,491; Gombe 1,373 and Jigawa 1,250.
Kaduna has 4,493 intending pilgrims, followed by Kano – 3,057; Katsina 2,654; Kebbi 3,419; Kogi 13; Kwara 3,000; Nasarawa 1,866; Niger 3,201; Ondo 491; Plateau 1,126; Sokoto 3,643 and Zamfara 1,596.
Bayelsa has 13; Delta – 36, Rivers – 47, Ebonyi – 13, Edo – 295, Enugu – 18, Imo – 100; Lagos has 1, 861; Ogun, 925; Osun 1,590; Oyo 1,047; the Armed Forces – 365; HSS – 1884 and others – 1,500.
Meanwhile, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Cross River States do not have any intending pilgrims on the list released by NAHCON.
