2027 Hajj: Lagos demands more slots

The Lagos State Government has asked the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to summation its allocation of pilgrimage slots for the 2027 Hajj, citing the rising fig of residents seeking to enactment successful the yearly Holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, made the petition during an engagement with NAHCON’s pre-2027 Hajj appraisal squad led by its Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi.

Layode described the 1,224 slots allocated to Lagos for the 2027 Hajj arsenic inadequate, saying the State would necessitate astatine slightest 2,500 slots to adequately conscionable the request from intending pilgrims.

“Lagos has consistently performed good successful Hajj operations. Before my predecessor, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, near office, helium airlifted 3,661 pilgrims successful the 2023 operations alone. Since I assumed bureau successful 2024, we person sustained the tempo. We airlifted 1,600 pilgrims successful 2026, and we are already projecting not little than 2,000 intending pilgrims for 2027. I, therefore, entreaty to NAHCON to reconsider Lagos and allocate further slots to us,” helium said.

Reflecting connected the 2026 Hajj, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with immoderate of the services provided to Nigerian pilgrims. He peculiarly criticised the information of tents and facilities astatine Arafat, describing them arsenic substandard and unsuitable and li...