The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has approved the extension of the deadline for the payment of fares for 2025 Hajj pilgrimage to February 10, 2025. It did so against the backdrop of appeals by intending pilgrims not able to pay registration dues earlier before the initial deadline.

The extension, the Commission explained in a press statement by its Assistant Director of Information and Publication Fatima Sanda Usara, was a response to pleas by various state pilgrim agencies. The extension was therefore announced at a Zoom meeting held with top Hajj stakeholders on the night of February 4, 2025.

Please Transfer Funds Immediately

The NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has consequently called for close collaboration with the ES of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards in fast-tracking such payments with the Commission, saying the payment transfers would ensure that already inspected and booked accommodations for Nigerian pilgrims in the Kingdom are secured.

He added that Saudi Arabia had placed a deadline on when contracts are to be signed. All the payments must be realized on the Saudi Arabia designated International Bank Account Number (IBAN) latest by February 14, 2025. The payment would only be considered at the e-track portal (Nusuk Masar), an official registration portal for Hajj. As these are offshore payments and require some time for processing, early remittance would therefore be very key in this regard to avoid delays, the NAHCON Chairman said.

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Full Payment Encouraged for the Hajj Fare

At the meeting, the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, encouraged pilgrims, who have raised so far the bulk of the money required except for the $500 Basic Travel Allowance to pay up their money to enable them to conclude their registration as they continue to make plans for the payment of the remaining balance, including the travel allowance.

Elegushi said most of them were still short by as much as N200,000, which prevented them from making full payments. This has caused some intending pilgrims complications, even though they have already reached the required amount for Hajj fare.

State Pilgrims’ Agencies Urged to Remit Funds Quickly

The Executive Secretary of Nasarawa State and Chairman of the Forum of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Malam Idris Almakura, reiterated the need for the remittance of such payment immediately. Almakura urged his colleagues to ensure that whatever money available for pilgrims was transferred without any delay to avoid complications that might arise closer to the deadline.

Another Executive Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Faruku Yaro of Kebbi State, supported Almakura. He called on fellow Executive Secretaries to remit all the funds they have collected from pilgrims into NAHCON’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account as soon as possible. Yaro warned that any delay in making the payments could lead to cancellations of contracts, a situation that happened last year. He further urged pilgrims to take advantage of the current favorable exchange rates, as fluctuation in the market may affect the total cost of the pilgrimage.

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Basic Travel Allowance Discussions Still Ongoing

Aside from the payment discussions, one of the major issues raised during the meeting was the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intention to disburse the BTA through credit cards to the pilgrims. Many of the stakeholders present rejected the idea outright, stating that such could create problems for the pilgrims who may not be conversant with the use of credit cards or may have further difficulties accessing their money overseas.

These concerns are being actively discussed, and stakeholders have agreed to continue holding regular Zoom meetings until all contracts and logistics are finalized.

This extension, until February 10, will afford the intending pilgrims more time to complete their registrations and secure their spots for the 2025 Hajj. With Saudi Arabia setting an important deadline of February 14, 2025, for the signing of contracts, pilgrims and state agencies are called upon to act fast if they wish to go on the pilgrimage.

NAHCON said these will be engendered through collective efforts by all stakeholders in the stipulated timeframe. It, therefore, hopes to ease the process towards the successful pilgrimage of Nigerian Muslims to the Kingdom through proper planning and cooperation.

For more details and updates, NAHCON urged intending pilgrims to keep close contact with their various state pilgrims’ welfare boards, and to also follow all guidelines as issued by the Commission.

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