The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has released the final number of intending pilgrims who paid for the 2024 Hajj.
The Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Fatima Sanda Usara, said in a statement that after the closing of registration, the official number of intending pilgrims that registered stood at 51,447 under the government quota.
She said, commendably, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government played a role in the realization of the noble objective.
“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) recognizes the numerous sacrifices that the Federal Government made against all odds towards easing the constraints off its intending pilgrims,” she said.
Usara also commended the patience exhibited by the pilgrims who were caught up in the uncertainties.
“The concern demonstrated by the Ulamas over the pilgrims’ predicament did not go unnoticed by the Commission. Several stakeholders, including state governors, rendered solutions out of the gridlock.
“Some media houses showed tremendous understanding of the constraints which literally exposed the reality of the quagmire the 2024 Hajj was confronting. Indeed, 2024 Hajj preparations came with unexpected challenges from which lessons have been learnt,” she said.
“Going forward, long-term planning will be the Commission’s paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations. It is a reality that all Hajj stakeholders must cue in to avert unforeseen challenges.”
Kaduna State had the highest number of pilgrims with 4,493, Kano trails closely with 3,053.
Bayelsa and Ebonyi States have the least with 13 each, while Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, and Cross River, do not have any pilgrims on the list.