No fewer than 460 Muslim pilgrims from Kogi State have secured clearance from the National Hajj Commission to perform the 2024 pilgrimage to Mecca.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this on Tuesday when he commended the Kogi State Hajj Commission for becoming the first state in Nigeria to effect full contribution to the Hajj Savings Scheme, and securing the clearance.
Governor Ododo in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismaila Isah, said the complete payment was made possible because the state government secured a subsidy for its pilgrims on account of the 100 per cent contribution to the Hajj Savings Scheme by the pilgrims through the NAHCON.
The Governor who expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation made by the state Hajj Commission, praised the immediate past administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello for approving the participation of the state in the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme by pilgrims two years ago, stressing that his administration will sustain and consolidate on the gains of the scheme.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for providing subsidy for Nigerian Muslim pilgrims who were distressed by the increase in the 2024 Hajj fares.
The governor also assured that his administration will continue to partner with the NAHCON to ease the burden of pilgrims from the state through the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme in the state.
Increase in the 2024 Hajj fare caused by foreign exchange differentials resulted in over 1.9 million Naira extra charges per pilgrim in Nigeria with only Kogi State now fully cleared of the over 800 million Naira that should have been paid by its over 460 pilgrims now set to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah.
