The Kaduna state Muslims Welfare Board has extended the deadline for the payment of Hajj fares for intending pilgrims from the state to June 16th.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Malam Yunusa Abdulahi issued on Monday in Kaduna said the board had earlier announced that, intending pilgrims who had failed to register before last Friday’s deadline, would forfeit their chances of going on the pilgrimage.

Makam Yunusa explained that the deadline was extended following appeals by prospective pilgrims who had been unable to meet the initial deadline.

He said: “The Overseer of the Board, Imam Hussaini Sulaiman Tsoho urged intending pilgrims to make their payments as there won’t be any more extensions.

“The Overseer explained that payment would enable the process of acquiring visa to commence and the need to pay the balance of the fare to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on schedule.”

It could be recalled that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had recently approved a flat rate of N1,535,505 as the Hajj fare for Kaduna State intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia.

About 6,327 intending pilgrims are expected to perform the 2017 hajj from the state.