Kwara Muslim board gives payment deadline for 2025 Hajj, says there will be no extension.

Monday, April 21, 2025 - The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has issued a deadline for intending pilgrims to complete their payments for the 2025 Hajj exercise, warning that the registration portal will be closed by April 22.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, made this known during an enlightenment and special prayer session organized for the state’s intending pilgrims on Sunday in Ilorin.

Abdulkadir disclosed that 2,150 pilgrims from Kwara State have registered for the holy pilgrimage, with fewer than 30 yet to complete their payments.

“We are waiting for them to complete their payments before the date, after which we will refund their money,” he said. “Once the portal is closed, there will be no extension.”

He emphasized that the Hajj is a spiritual journey that requires sincere intentions, warning that it should not be viewed as a tourist venture.

“Hajj is not a tourism affair but an act of worship that demands piety, patience, and discipline,” Abdulkadir stated.

Also speaking at the event, the 2025 Amirul-Hajj and Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya, urged the pilgrims to detach from distractions, especially social media, to ensure the pilgrimage is accepted by Allah.

“Be patient while in the holy land and avoid unnecessary social media distractions,” he advised.

The monarch also commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for providing essential facilities to guarantee a smooth Hajj operation.

The Chairman of the Board, Prof. Mashood Mahmud-Jimba, echoed the appreciation to the state government for its unwavering support.

In his lecture, the Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, represented by Imam Kamaldeen Shefiulahi, encouraged the pilgrims to uphold the fear of Allah before, during, and after the exercise.

The special prayer session was led by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhamid, who prayed for a peaceful and successful Hajj.

“Hajj is not by strength or wealth, but by the will of Allah,” he said.