The FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (FCT-MPWB) Tuesday said the sales of forms for 2025 hajj exercises were still on, advising intending pilgrims from the nation’s capital to deposit N8.4 million on or before December 31.
The Director of the Board, Mr. Kadari Edah, made this known when he led members of the Board’s management team to the Media Trust Group, publishers of Trust titles and owners of Trust TV and Radio.
He said about 4,148 slots had been initially allocated to the Board for the exercise but said only few intending pilgrims had deposited the required amount.
He attributed the development to poor publicity and the present economic situation in the country and solicited the newspaper’s assistance in terms of publicity.
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He said, “The N8.4 million deposit is not the final rate yet. It could be less or it could be more. I want to believe it will be less, because the airline screening we did in NAHCON recently, the flight fare, which is a major part of the components of Hajj fare, was slightly less than the 2024 flight fare.’’
He said some of the challenges like flight delay and other logistics experienced during the last year’s exercise were being worked on with a view to have a better outing during the 2025 exercise.
The director also informed that the Board had received about N270 million to be shared at the rate of N61,000 per pilgrim, which is equivalent to 150 Riyals as refund for services not rendered during the 2023 hajj exercise.
He said a committee had been inaugurated to ensure a hitch free disbursement, adding that each beneficiary must identify himself or herself properly.
Mr. Kadari Edah reiterated that part of the guidelines was that the beneficiary must have his/her evidence of travel, receipt, e-passport and must come by himself or herself, no third party.
According to him: “Though there may be some cases that you cannot help. Maybe somebody has to come for someone else, like case of death, case of ill health, and some other cases like that, we would consider it.’’
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