For hajj 2022, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has assigned 33, 976 hajj seats to the 36 state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as 9,032 to private tour operators.
At a meeting with Chief Executives of states Muslim Pilgrims boards and agencies at the Hajj House Abuja on Thursday, the chairman of NAHCON, Barr. Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, announced the distribution, with Kaduna state receiving the highest amount of 2491.
He noted that, the country has been allocated 43,008 seats out of which 30,578 representing 71% is allocated to states and the FCT while 9032, representing 21% of the seats are allocated private tour operators. Alhaji Hassan said, 3,398 seats, which is about 8% of the allocated seats will go to “Stakeholders”.
“The 2022 seat allocation is based on the performance Of each state in the last Hajj operations in 2019 airlift.”
Sokoto (2404), Niger state (2256), Kano (2229), Katsina (2146), Kebbi (2128), Lagos (1562), and Zamfara (1303) are among the other major seat allocations. The armed forces is given 239 seats. Three states, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Imo, received zero allocation. According to Alhaji Hassan, the two states failed to meet conditions for the renewal of their operating licences. On the other hand pilgrims from the two states will be taken care of by the commission.
Barr Zikrullah said the Hajj 2022 guidelines also stipulated that full dose of Covid 19 vaccine is mandatory for all pilgrims as well as a PCR test before departure. Adding that, “ All states pilgrims are to be registered on the e-track system which has been activated in the last 24 hours.”
The Sharing Formula
To determine the number of pilgrims sent to each state, NAHCON used the 2019 state performance database. For example, Niger was allotted 3946 seats in 2019, but was able to airlift 3280 pilgrims, accounting for 7.3 percent of the total. As a result, Niger received 2256 percent of the total for the 2022 hajj.
The following are the allocations to other states: Kano received 2229, Katsina 2146, Kogi 313, Adamawa 1166, Kwara 1406, Lagos 1562, FCT 1538, Nasarawa 684, Sokoto 2404, Taraba 651, Zamfara 1303, Yobe 860, Oyo 629, Osun 460, Ogun 497, Plateau 824, Bauchi 1362, Jigawa 614, Gombe 1005, Borno 1195, Benue 103, Ekiti 83, Edo 94, Ebonyi 51, Anambra 17 and Armed Forces 239.
Hajj Fares To Increase
Nigerian pilgrims paid an average of N1.5 million naira in 2019 for Hajj, including a $800 BTA. Most pilgrims planning to perform the hajj in 2019 have already paid a deposit of N1.5 million, with just a few having paid less than N1.4 million.
Meanwhile, NAHCON has predicted that Nigerian pilgrims’ fares will rise by more than 50% from what they paid in 2019. Abdullahi Hardawa, the NAHCON Commissioner in Charge of Operations, told BBC Hausa: The projection of the increase was due to the economic realities and other factors that are beyond the control of NAHCON. For example, the exchange rate for hajj was N306 but now it will be at N410 to a dollar. Also, 97 per cent of hajj fare computation is based on foreign exchange. Payment for accommodation feeding, airlines and other services in Saudi Arabia is dollarized.
“More importantly, Saudi Arabia increased their VAT from 5 per cent to 15 per cent which has multiple effects on services during offshore operations,” he added.
