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By Abubakar Yakubu, Abuja
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman has announced a new extension of the deadline for the 2025 Hajj registration exercise to February 10.
A statement released on Tuesday night by Fatima S. Usara, NAHCON’s assistant director information and publication, said the chairman’s decision followed appeals made on behalf of intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration on time.
“The extension was announced during a zoom meeting between NAHCON and key Hajj stakeholders on the night of Tuesday February 4, 2025,” she disclosed.
She said the chairman further urged executive secretaries of state pilgrims’ welfare boards to cooperate with NAHCON in order to ensure the timely transfer of funds, which is crucial for securing accommodations that have already been inspected as well as booked.
Usara informed further that Saudi Arabia has set Feb 14 as the deadline for contract signings, adding that this means all payments must reach the designated IBAN account in Saudi Arabia before that date so that it can be recognized on the e-track (Nusuk Masar) registration portal.
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According to her, the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, proposed that pilgrims who can afford the Hajj fare, excluding the $500 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) should proceed with their payments while sourcing the BTA separately.
She said the commissioner noted that some pilgrims fell short by N200,000, which prevented them from completing their payments despite having the required Hajj fare amount.
The spokesperson revealed that another critical issue discussed was the CBN’s proposal to disburse BTA via credit cards and said many participants opposed the initiative, citing the potential hardship it could cause for pilgrims.
She said NAHCON chairman’s call was supported by Malam Idris Almakura, the executive secretary of Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and chairman of the Forum of States, who called on his colleagues to remit available funds immediately rather than wait for the deadline.
“Similarly Alhaji Faruku Yaro, the executive secretary of Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the forum’s deputy chairman, advised his colleagues to promptly remit all payments made by pilgrims into NAHCON’s CBN account, cautioning that delays could lead to contract cancellation as experienced last year,” the statement read.
