The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, has urged intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj to expedite the deposit of their fares to facilitate early preparations by the board.
Addressing journalists, Alhaji Sa’adu disclosed that the Hajj fare for 2025 is unlikely to exceed last year’s rate, emphasizing the importance of timely payments at designated Hajj offices in various local government areas or directly at the board’s office. According to him, early deposits will enable the board to secure visas and accommodations for pilgrims without delays.
He revealed that the board accepts an initial deposit of N5 million and confirmed that each state has been allocated the same number of slots as the previous year.
The Executive Secretary also highlighted that pregnant women and elderly individuals would not be allowed to participate in the pilgrimage, citing previous instances of some bypassing the screening process.
Regarding Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), Alhaji Sa’adu suggested that it should be disbursed to intending pilgrims well in advance to ensure smooth arrangements.