Katsina intending pilgrims pay N1.5 million for hajj
PILGRIMS planning to visit Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj exercise from Katsina State are to pay a fare of N1,463,410 each.
The Executive Director, Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mohammed Abu Rimi, said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) fixed the hajj fare and was approved by the Katsina State Government.
He also said that NAHCON had fixed deadline for remittance of fares collected by the state to come before the end of Ramadan.
He said the board was working “within schedule regarding the implementation of the 2018 calendar of events adopted as a strategy for achieving successful operation.”
He added that arrangements have also been put in place to kick-start the yearly general screening of intending pilgrims. Rimi said the screening would also include pregnancy screening of female intending pilgrims at the zones, as well as conduct of vaccination and distribution of uniforms and enlightening classes slated to hold very soon.
He said 4,930 slots were allocated for the state for the 2018 hajj, and that the Saudi Arabian authorities have approved additional data capture centres for intending pilgrims, from an initial three, to 10 centres across the country.