In an unprecedented achievement, 460 Muslim pilgrims hailing from Kogi State have received clearance from the National Hajj Commission to embark on the revered pilgrimage to Mecca in 2024.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo announced this milestone on Tuesday, commending the Kogi State Hajj Commission for its exceptional efforts. He lauded the commission for making Kogi the first state in Nigeria to fully contribute to the Hajj Savings Scheme, thereby securing clearance for its pilgrims.
Governor Ododo, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismaila Isah, attributed the successful payment to the state government’s subsidy initiative. This subsidy was made possible due to the pilgrims’ complete participation in the Hajj Savings Scheme facilitated by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
Expressing his satisfaction with the readiness of the state Hajj Commission, Governor Ododo extended appreciation to the past administration under Alhaji Yahaya Bello for initiating the state’s involvement in the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme. He affirmed his administration’s commitment to building upon the successes of the scheme.
Furthermore, Governor Ododo acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for extending subsidy support to Nigerian Muslim pilgrims affected by the escalated 2024 Hajj fares. He pledged continued collaboration with NAHCON to alleviate the financial burdens faced by pilgrims from Kogi State through the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme.
The surge in the 2024 Hajj fares, driven by foreign exchange differentials, resulted in an additional charge of over 1.9 million Naira per pilgrim in Nigeria. Despite this, Kogi State has emerged as the lone entity fully cleared of the over 800 million Naira obligation. This clearance ensures that the 460 pilgrims from Kogi State can proceed with their pilgrimage to Makkah this year without financial impediments.
