Lagos urges intending pilgrims to reserve 2020 deposit for hajj 2021

THE Lagos State Government has urged intending pilgrims to defer hajj exercise till 2021, consequent upon the banning of international pilgrims from performing the year 2020 pilgrimage by the Saudi Arabian authority.

This was part of the major resolutions reached between the state government, the intending pilgrims, Ulamahs ( Islamic scholars) and other stakeholders, during a oneday sensitisation programme on the future of year 2020 hajj operation, held at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

While justifying the necessity for the cancellation, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, praised the Saudi authority for taking such a bold and difficult decision in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus ( COVID- 19) pandemic that is ravaging the entire world, considering the large number of people that would have performed the pilgrimage in Makkah and Medina.

The commissioner said as a government that is responsible to its people, no pilgrims would be denied his/ her legitimate right to seek refund of the hajj fare already paid. He however advised that it is better for them to leave the money with the government and defer the exercise till 2021 when they would be considered on a firstcome, first- served basis, otherwise they would start all over again.

He urged those who are yet to complete their payment to do so quickly so as to secure their place in the record of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.