The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has announced that, at the close of registration for 2024 Hajj exercise, 51,447 pilgrims had successfully paid for the pilgrimage.

A breakdown of the number of the intending pilgrims per state, however, shows that Kaduna State has the highest number of 4,493 registered intending pilgrims, followed by Sokoto which has 3,643 pilgrims.

According to the breakdown, Kaduna and Sokoto were followed by Niger, Kano and Kwara states, with 3,201, 3,057 and 3,000 pilgrims respectively. Katsina, FCT and Bauchi have 2,654, 2,491 and 2,315 respectively.

A statement issued by NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, said that the 2024 Hajj preparations came with unexpected challenges from which lessons have been learnt.

The Commission however noted that though it had always realized the importance of long term planning, going forward, long term planning will be its paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations.

According to the statement, “After close of registration, the official number of intending pilgrims that registered for the 2024 Hajj from Nigeria stands at 51,447 under the government quota.

“Indeed, 2024 Hajj preparations came with unexpected challenges from which lessons have been learnt.

“NAHCON has always known that long term planning has been the workable strategy that would have subdued the challenges that slowed down the year’s Hajj preparations. Going forward, long term planning will be the Commission’s paradigm shift in its pre-Hajj operations.

“It is a reality that all Hajj stakeholders must queue into to avert unforeseen challenges. Below is a breakdown of the number of pilgrims that successfully registered for the 2024 Hajj exercise from each state,” it said.

The Commission commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government for playing a leading role in the realization of the exercise, saying that, the Commission recognizes the numerous sacrifices that the Federal Government made against all odds towards easing the constraints off its intending pilgrims.

While acknowledging the contributions of all Hajj stakeholders, including clerics and the media, the Commission commended the patience exhibited by the pilgrims that were caught up in the uncertainties.

END.