By Usman Ibn A. Lapai
Kaduna
The Kaduna state Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB) yesterday flagged-off sale of 2018 hajj seats across the 23 local government areas of the state.
According to the board, every intending pilgrim must deposit N800,000 pending final announcement of seat fare by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Director, operations for the board, Lawan Yakubu, who disclosed this warned against registration by proxy, adding that pregnant women and elderly would equally not be registered.
“For the elderly men and women, they need to be accompanied by able bodied relatives because Hajj is a rigorous activity. Pregnant women too wouldn’t be registered as ordered by NAHCON,” he said.
The director also disclosed a new Saudi Arabian policy which require old timer pilgrims to pay additional 2,000 Saudi Riyal before they would be allowed to register for the 2018 hajj.
According to him, the new policy was to allow new timers the chance to travel.
“The old timers would only be allowed to travel if they pay the additional 2,000 Saudi Riyal set aside by Saudi Arabian authorities. The money would be paid by any person that performed hajj two years before now after the announcement of the hajj fare by NAHCON,” he said.
Lawan further charged the state pilgrims board officials to be friendly with the intending pilgrims, commending the state government for its support to the board.
