The Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has begun collection of 2014 Hajj fares from intending pilgrims in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Salisu Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Jos that each intending pilgrim would make a deposit of N600,000.

So far, he said, the board had collected deposits from over 500 intending pilgrims.

“The board has started collecting N600.000 from intending pilgrims, pending the formal announcement of the 2014 Hajj fares by National Hajj Commission (NAHCO). The commission allocated 1, 274 seats for the exercise to the state. This is less than the 1,300 seats that the state got in 2013”,Musa said.

The Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has begun collection of 2014 Hajj fares from intending pilgrims in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Salisu Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Jos that each intending pilgrim would make a deposit of N600,000.

So far, he said, the board had collected deposits from over 500 intending pilgrims.

“The board has started collecting N600.000 from intending pilgrims, pending the formal announcement of the 2014 Hajj fares by National Hajj Commission (NAHCO). The commission allocated 1, 274 seats for the exercise to the state. This is less than the 1,300 seats that the state got in 2013”,Musa said.

He said the Saudi authorities had reduced the number of seats allocated to Nigeria due to the ongoing expansion of the Holy Mosque in Mecca.

“We have started making arrangements to secure good accommodation in Saudi Arabia for the Plateau pilgrims, near the Holy Mosque. Accommodation near the Holy Mosque in Mecca is more expensive,” he said.

The secretary called on the intending pilgrims to secure their bank draft from designated banks, to avoid being left out of the exercise. Musa warned them against handing over their money to anyone, saying they should endeavour to make the deposits by themselves.

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Plateau begins Collection of 2014 Hajj Fares