The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) issued seat allocations for the 2023 Hajj to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory yesterday (FCT).
Saudi Arabia recently restored to participating countries the pre-COVID-19 Hajj allocations. According to NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Information and Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, Kaduna received 5,982 tickets, Kano received 5,902 seats, Sokoto received 5,504 seats, and Niger received 5,165 seats.
Lagos received 3,576 slots in the South West, followed by Oyo (1,441), Ogun (1,139), Osun (1,054), Ondo (436), and Ekiti (197).
Similarly, Abia received 53 seats, Anambra 39, Bayelsa 35, Cross Rivers 66, Delta 74, Ebonyi 177, Imo 30; Rivers 50, and Enugu 40.
Adamawa has 2,669 seats, Bauchi has 3,132, Benue has 236, Borno has 2,735 seats, Nassarawa has 1,567, Yobe has 1,968, the FCT has 3,520, Gombe has 2,301, Jigawa has 1,525, Katsina has 4,913, Kebbi has 4871, Kwara has 3,219, Plateau has 1,984 and Taraba has 1,590.
NAHCON stated that the allocation to Kogi State, private tour operators, and the Armed Forces was on hold until further official protocols were determined. Similarly, the Hajj Commission announced that Akwa Ibom State had been removed from the 2023 allocation due to its failure to renew its operational license.