From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) has registered a total of 3,150 intending pilgrims for the forthcoming 2027 Hajj exercise, including the additional 300 Hajj seats recently allocated to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Chairman, Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA), Alhaji Aliyu Musa, disclosed this when he addressed newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto where he gave update on the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming 2027 Hajj exercise.
He explained that the additional 300 slots were part of the 10,000 slots allocated to Nigeria by the Saudi Arabian Government, which NAHCON distributed to states and tour operators.
Alhaji Aliyu Musa said the 300 additional slots allocated to Sokoto State have been utilized to accommodate some intending pilgrims who had already paid through the Agency and Hajj saving scheme.
He said arrangements for the 2027 Hajj have reached about 80 per cent, expressing optimism that the Agency will meet the target within the stipulated time frame.
On the deficit, the Chairman said the state still has a deficit of 500 seats.
“If we can get the 500 slots, I am sure we are going to exhaust it,” he said, adding however that an appeal for more slots may not be tenable at the moment as there is no more allocation for the country from Saudi Arabia.
“Those 500 will wait till next time, Insha Allah,” he stated.
Alhaji Aliyu Musa disclosed that the Agency has remitted all monies for the 3,150 seats to NAHCON, adding that each intending pilgrim has paid a tentative Hajj fare of N7,682,862.60k.
He commended the Sokoto State Government for its support, saying the Hajj exercise cannot be achieved without the state government’s contribution which he quantified as almost 100 per cent.
On preparations, he said the Agency is currently e-tracking passports to the Saudi Arabian portal for visa issuance, and will by next month travel to Saudi Arabia to inspect accommodation and catering services for pilgrims, while arrangements for pilgrims’ uniforms are also in progress.
He also disclosed that the Agency was recently honoured with various awards by NAHCON and other institutions, including an award to its Public Relations Officer by Hajj Reporters Portal.
On the centralization of Hajj passport issuance in Abuja and Lagos by the Federal Government, Alhaji Aliyu Musa described it as a major bottleneck causing delays, as passports that were formerly obtained within a week now take up to three weeks, and appealed to the Comptroller General of Immigration to decentralize the process.
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