The Edo Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Sunday said 430 persons from the state would perform the holy pilgrimage to Makkah in 2023.
Sheikh Ibrahim Oyarekhua, Chairman of the board, disclosed this on Sunday in Benin while explaining the preparation for the religious rite.
According to him, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has approved an additional 156 slots to the initial approval of 274, bringing the total slot for the South South state to 430.
“About 85 per cent of the intending pilgrims have made full payment, while the remaining, which is less than 15 per cent have made part payment, and I am optimistic they will complete their payments,” he said.
Consequent to the new approval, the chairman said the board had given up to May 5, for the remaining intending pilgrims to complete their payment.
The inaugural flight, he said, would commence on May 21, though it would not start with Edo.
Oyarekhua appealed to intending pilgrims, who are yet to submit their documents, such as international passports and medical reports, to forward same to the board.
He said that this would enable the fast completion of registration before the close of portal by the Saudi Arabian government.
“About 111 persons have issues with their passports which we are trying to resolve.
”We have written to the Comptroller General of Immigration through the Comptroller in Edo to seek a waiver so that all the intending pilgrims can perform the Hajj,” he said.
The chairman noted, however, that the board had already begun arrangements for accommodation, feeding, transportation, as well as other logistics for a successful Hajj operation in the state.
He advised the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Edo and Nigeria by staying obeying the laws of Saudi Arabia and abiding by the rituals of the pilgrimage.(NAN)
