Lagos, FCT Commence Registration Process For Hajj Pilgrims

Lagos, FCT Commence Registration Process For Hajj Pilgrims

Ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, intending pilgrims from Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been instructed to make an initial deposit of N8.5 million and N8.4 million, respectively. The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and its FCT counterpart announced this in separate statements on Thursday…….CONTINUE READING 

Saheed Onipede, the Secretary of the Lagos board, urged intending pilgrims to obtain the Hajj form from their office in Ikeja. The cost of the Hajj form is set at N20,000, with an initial deposit of N8,500,000 required pending the official fare announcement by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Onipede further explained that to accommodate the current economic situation, the board has made provisions for flexible payment options, allowing intending pilgrims to pay in installments. He emphasized the importance of making payments only through official channels, advising interested individuals to secure a bank draft from any commercial bank in favor of the ‘Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board’ and submit it to the accounts department to receive an official receipt. He also assured that if the final Hajj fare is lower than N8.5 million, the board would refund the difference.

Similarly, the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has set the initial deposit for the 2025 Hajj at N8,400,000. Ahmad Saleh, the Board’s Chief Information Officer, issued a statement on behalf of the Chairman, Mallam Abubakar Adamu-Evuti, outlining the payment process. Intending pilgrims are required to make payments through bank drafts and submit them to the area offices across the six Area Councils of the FCT. The board does not accept cash deposits or registration by proxy and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

The FCT board’s announcement emphasized that prospective pilgrims must deposit a minimum of N8,400,000 via bank draft from any commercial bank. It is important for the intending pilgrims to submit these drafts to the board’s area officers in the FCT, adhering strictly to the stated policies.

According to The PUNCH, in the 2024 Hajj, a total of 51,477 pilgrims participated, including 2,491 from the FCT, with the pilgrimage taking place from July 15 to August 15, 2024.