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Tag: National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

  • NAHCON chair in Saudi Arabia to finalise 2026 Hajj agreements

    NAHCON chair in Saudi Arabia to finalise 2026 Hajj agreements

    Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, yesterday led a delegation to conclude service agreements with Saudi, ahead of 2026 Hajj.

    Usman was accompanied by commissioners and NAHCON Secretary, Dr. Mustapha  Ali.

    A statement by Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, said the trip was in line with the operational calendar released by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

     Saudi authorities marked September 6 to 23 (15 to 29 Safar 1447H) for early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps), while September 23 and 24, 2025 (1 and 2 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1447H) were fixed as deadline for transportation and accommodation.

    Read Also: Akpoti-Uduaghan: NLC, Afenifere fault Senate stand on Natasha’s resumption

    The ministry also announced October 12 (20 Rabi’ al-Thani 1447H) as final date for announcement of pilgrims’ registration and submission of data for grouping via Nusuk platform.

    To align with these deadlines, NAHCON has set October 8, 2025, as the cut-off date for State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and licensed Hajj Tour Operators to remit Hajj fares for the 2026 pilgrimage.

    The commission urged all stakeholders to adhere strictly to the deadlines to ensure smooth operations and guarantee a successful Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims.

  • NAHCON hails Saudi Arabia for a hitch-free hajj

    THE Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed, has congratulated the Saudi Arabian government for a successful hajj season.

    Coming on the heels of the Mina Hajj rites and pilgrims’ safe return to Makkah, Muhammad commended the authorities for what he described as “successfully hosting pilgrims from all over the world in 2019 Hajj season.”

    The NAHCON Chairman praised the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for their professional handling of the activities which resulted in a hitch-free exercise.

    He also extolled the establishment of Mutawwifs for Pilgrims from African Non-Arab Countries, popularly referred to as Mu’assasah, for the excellent arrangement in Mina and Arafat, that helped to enhance the comfort of Nigerian pilgrims in the tents, especially with the provision of air conditioning units at no extra cost to the pilgrims.

    He noted, “Their well-organised service teams that were placed on standby to attend to the pilgrims throughout the period deserve appreciation.”

    Read Also: No intending pilgrim will be left behind – NAHCON

    Similarly, Muhammad had commendations for the General Car Syndicate and other transport companies that moved all pilgrims within stipulated time and brought them back without delay.

    The NAHCON chairman, who had earlier, at a post-Arafat stakeholders’ meeting in Makkah, commended the entire NAHCON staff, together with the different states pilgrim welfare boards across Nigeria, also expressed profound “happiness at the conduct of Nigerian pilgrims and their officials, for their “decorum” and for ‘abiding by the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” adding that “this indeed made Nigeria proud.”

    Meanwhile, the Chairman has extolled the NAHCON media team covering this year’s hajj.

    At a brief meeting with the team at the NAHCON head-office in Saudi Arabia, Muhammad commended the good work, coverage and team spirit of journalists covering this year’s Hajj activities, stressing that it is the best team he has so far worked with.

     

     

  • FG signs $523,823 agreement with Islamic Bank

    The federal government has signed a $523,823 (N185, 957,165 million) Technical Assistant (TA) Agreement grant with the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) Group, in Marrakesh, Morocco.

    According to a statement issued and signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on Media and Communications, Mr Paul Ella Abechi, “the TA agreement grants would be used to address capacity building/equipment and logistics upgrade in the Hajj Commission and for the improvement of cotton, textile and garment value chain in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.”

    READ ALSO: Obi blasts federal government “tradermoni”

    The statement added that “the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will get $243,823.0, for capacity building/equipment and logistics upgrade while the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will receive the balance of $280,000 for the improvement of cotton, textile and garment value chain.”

    Nigeria’s Minister of finance Zainab Ahmed signed on behalf of the Federal Government while President of the ISDB Group, Dr. Bandar M. H. Hajjar, signed on behalf of the Group, at the 44th ISDB Group Annual Meeting held in Marrakesh, Morrocco.

    Also on the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister was said to have told participants at the conference that state governments in Nigeria are doing their best to boost agriculture and food production. According to her, “State governments in Nigeria are adopting cluster farming which has eased access to funds by farmers, increased growth and allows access to facilities without collateral.”

  • Hajj 2018: 2nd batch of Lagos pilgrims arrive Thursday

    The second batch of 310 Lagos pilgrims will be transported back to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia aboard Med-view Airline on Thursday.

    Mr Abdulrahaman Ishola, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, made this known on Thursday in Lagos.

    “The second batch of 310 pilgrims are ready to be transported back home today.

    “ We will continue to thank Allah for a successful exercise, and we pray that He accepts all our acts of worship.

    “I advise the pilgrims to obey all regulations regarding their luggage and should not carry excess luggage,” he said in a statement by Mr Jamiu Dosunmu, the board Public Relations Officer.

    Ishola also advised the pilgrims not to engage in excessive buying of goods, saying that any extra good in excess of the approved kilograms would be confiscated.

    Read Also:Hajj 2018: Nigerian pilgrim dies in elevator pit

    He urged pilgrims to take cognizance of the 32 kg and 8 kg for big and small bags given by the Air carrier and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON ).

    Ishola thanked the state government for showing interests in hajj operation and for providing necessary logistics to make the operations smooth and successful.

    He reiterated the commitment of the board to ensure safe and timely arrival of Lagos pilgrims.

    Ishola assured them that arrangement had already been put in place for subsequent flights after a four day break.

    Only 2,000 pilgrims from Lagos state participated in the 2018 Hajj.

    312 of the pilgrims were earlier transported home on Tuesday.

  • NAHCON hails Buhari over 2018 Hajj success

    Abdullahi Muktar, Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON ) has commended President Muhammad Buhari for relentlessly assisting the commission to accomplish its task.

    Muktar made the commendation during a post Arafat meeting with stakeholders on Monday in Makkah, Saudia Arabia.

    He said the commendation became necessary in view of the tremendous support the commission received from the presidency which was instrumental to the successes recorded during the performance of the hajj rites in the holy land.

    The chairman further thanked the government of Saudi Arabia for making all the necessary provisions that assisted in making the 2018 exercise a huge success.

    The NAHCON chairman expressed satisfaction over the diligence and hard work exhibited by the commission’s staff during the exercise.

    He, therefore, called on them to maintain the tempo in subsequent missions.

    He commended state officials for good work in coordinating their pilgrims in good manners.

    ”The states have done wonderfully well in terms of coordinating pilgrims and Jamarat activities (pebble throwing rites) and environmental sanitation; we pray Allah rewards them all.

    On her part, Sen Monsura Sunmonu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, thanked Almighty Allah ” for allowing us to witness this year’s Hajj”.

    Sunmonu hailef NAHCON for a job well done by ensuring hitch-free exercise, adding that she passionately supported the entire operation and prayed Allah to continue to protect the country.

    In a goodwill message, the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, commended the progress achieved in this year’s hajj, adding that NAHCON made some notable achievements in the last three years.

    He also appreciated the National Medical Team and clerics who guided the pilgrims.

    “We hope that next year and beyond, Nigeria will be on the record of great country, ” he said.

    While giving a brief on phase one of the hajj, Alhaji Sulaiman Usman, Director, Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Service, NAHCON, said the feeding and animal sacrifices recorded incremental improvements.

    Read Also: Hajj 2018: NAHCON outlaws political campaign in Mina

    He said 6000 people paid their money for sacrifice through Jaiz Islamic Development Bank.

    He said the commission discovered that some illegal agents collected money for slaughtering animals but shared the crackers to themselves.

    ” We want to believe that those who paid to Jaiz also paid for transporting the meat to poor countries.”

    On environmental sanitation, he said “food vendors at Nigeria’s tents contributed in making our tents as refuse dumps. This are the areas that we need to work on in future”.

  • Max Air Airlifts 540 Kano Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Saturday commenced the airlift of the first batch of 540 intending pilgrims from Kano State through the Mallam Aminu Kano international Airport (MAKIA), to the Holy Land.

    NAHCON said the 540 pilgrims departed from MAKIA to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia about 00:23 on Saturday.

    In a statement by the NAHCON spokesperson, Fatima Usara, the intending pilgrims, comprising of 292 male and 248 female were airlifted aboard Max Air flight NGL1017.

    Read Also: Lagos urges good conduct among pilgrims

    The statement added that a total of 2,480 intending pilgrims of Kano State would be airlifted to the Holy Land in 5 flights.

    “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is announcing that today Saturday 28/07/2018, MaxAir flight NGL1017 departed Kano to Jeddah at 00:23hrs with 540 Kano Pilgrims.

     

  • Lagos Muslim pilgrims board begins payment for BTA

    The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced payment of Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) to intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj.

    The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with 19 appointed coordinators to manage pilgrim affairs in the state.

    AbdulLateef, who doubles as the “Amir-ul-Hajj” for Lagos state, said that pilgrims would be given the opportunity to exchange a minimum of N244,000 for 800 dollars within a two week window.

    “We urge the pilgrims to proceed to the pilgrim board’s office at the old secretariat for their BTA without further delay.

    Each pilgrim is entitled to exchange a minimum of 800 dollars for N244,000 at the official rate of N305.00 to a dollar as directed by the Federal Government,” he said.

    Read Also: Pilgrims urged to emulate Christ’s virtues

    He advised the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the concessionary exchange rate and to present their receipt of payment and international passport to get their BTA.

    “It is advisable that they come forward before the window closes because the dollar rate is higher in the black markets and banks.

    “Only fully paid pilgrims are entitled to the official rate and must come with their receipts of payment and international passports,” he said.

    He also advised Muslims to use the fasting period to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy for themselves and other faithful worldwide.

    “You should invest your resources to propagate good deeds and help your Muslim brothers and sisters as much as you can, as this is more rewarding in this blessed month of Ramadan,” he said.

    The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Muftau Okoya, emphasised the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that all intending pilgrims must possess a National Identity Card.

    He urged the intending pilgrims to register for the identity cards, while expressing the determination of the state government to ensure a successful Hajj.

    NAN

  • NAHCON refunds N33.88m to Hajj pilgrims

    NAHCON refunds N33.88m to Hajj pilgrims

    National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, ( NAHCON ) has concluded arrangements to refund the sum of N33, 883, 721.56 (14, 334.86 Riyals) to state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards for services not rendered or poorly rendered during the 2017 hajj operations, its chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar,  has told the Senate.

    Mukhtar, stated this at a two-day public hearing by Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Accommodation, Logistics, Feeding Offshore and Onshore of Nigeria Pilgrims held in Abuja.

    He also told the committee that the commission saved $18.6million from the money paid for accommodation of pilgrims during 2016 and 2017 hajj exercises respectively.

    Mukhtar said that the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board would get the lion share of N129, 777, 108.96 from the refund while Sokoto would get N53, 618, 806.55; Zamfara (N48, 973, 034.40); Bauchi (N47, 875, 183.40); Gombe (N22, 512, 711.89; Plateau (N15, 722, 290.40); Osun (N9, 945, 314.95); Ondo (N3, 673, 004); Delta (N970, 107.40); Abia (N483, 129.15) and Cross River which would get N313, 118.

    The chairman gave the breakdown of the amount saved for pilgrims in each state as $4.3million during the 2016 hajj operation and $14.3million in 2017.

    He explained that N373million was refunded in 2015, N500million in 2016 and N1.5billion in 2017 respectively.

    Mukhtar also said that 13, 637, 395 Riyals was savings made on Makkah accommodation during the 2017 hajj operation from all states for total allocation of 64, 351; adding that 124, 900 Riyals was paid for allocation in 2016 and 115, 595 Riyals in 2017.

    He gave the breakdown as 2, 169, 200 Riyals for 4, 930 allocation by Katsina; 2, 144, 592 Riyals for 4, 496 allocation by Zamfara; 1, 392, 750 Riyals for 5, 571 by Sokoto; 1, 084, 000 Riyals for 5, 330 allocation by Kaduna; 944, 622 Riyals for 3, 213 allocation by Bauchi; 786, 498 Riyals for 2, 789 allocations by Borno; 648, 060 Riyals for 4, 629 allocation; 621, 064 Riyals for 2, 677 allocation by Jigawa; 614, 451 Riyals for 6, 607 allocation by Kano and 551, 250 Riyals for 2, 205 allocation by Gombe, among others.

    In Madinah, the chairman said that $617 was paid for accommodation in 2016 by pilgrims from the North and $429.66 in 2017 with a difference of $187.44 while their counterparts from the South paid the same amount during the year.

    On feeding, he said Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU with the Saudi authorities on feeding to avoid further cases of food poison and cholera by the pilgrims.

    Speaking on hajj fare, he said that the differences in the payment between pilgrims from the North and South is $10, stressing that while the Northern pilgrims paid $1, 700 in 2016 and $1, 650 in 2017 with difference of $50, their counterparts from the South paid $1, 000.63 in 2017 for Makkah accommodation with a difference of $66.70.

    Mukhtar further informed that the difference in the hajj fares between the North and South was due to the exchange rate of naira to dollar during the hajj operations.

    The chairman said that the official exchange rate was $1, 530, 385.20 (N1, 496, 220.20) at $305 rate and $1, 839, 440.52 (N1, 805, 275.52) at $368 rate at the commercial bank while it was $1, 898, 308.20 (N1, 864, 143.20) at $380 rate at parallel market respectively.

    He added that the hajj package with minimum Basic Travelling Allowance, BTA of $760 in 2017 was N1, 626, 590.32 while the package with minimum BTA of $1000 was N1, 047, 498.92 in 2016.

    He noted that the commission had some committees for monitoring of services not rendered to pilgrims from various states, saying that “it was difficult to satisfy about 185,000 pilgrims without complaints”.

    He said, “It is very difficult to satisfy human beings, but as a regulatory body, we take full responsibility (over any lapse during the 2017 hajj exercise).

    To prevent lapses, we set up various committees to monitor services not rendered to our pilgrims from various states.”

  • NAHCON signs MoU with Madinah firm ahead of 2018 Hajj

    Ahead of the preparation towards the 2018 Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the National Adilla Establishment in Madina have signed the 2018 Hajj services agreement in an ongoing pre 2018 Hajj in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    NAHCON’s Chairman/CEO, Barr. Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad and the Vice Chairman/CEO of the Adillah EstablishmentMr Essam bin AbdulAziz Demyati signed the agreement at the Adillah’s Madinah Headquarters, it was learnt.

    Confirming this development in a statement signed by NAHCON Chief Information Officer, Abdullahi Adamu, he said the Nigerian delegation at the meeting include Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Isah Mohammed Dodo; the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship and Hajj, Hon Dr. Abdullahi Salame; NAHCON’s Commissioners PPMF, Alh Yusuf Adebayo Ibrahim, PHD and Operations, Alh. Abdullahi Modibbo Saleh; the Nigerian Consul-General, Ambassador Sani Yunusa.

    Also at the meeting were NAHCON Board Members; representatives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Leadership of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria (AHUON) and staff of the Nigerian Embassy; Consulate and NAHCON.

    In the statement which reads in part, Adamu said: “Prior to the signing the two parties discussed issues of the 2017 Hajj in order to harmonise their efforts for better 2018 Hajj arrangements. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the trends of partnership between them. Some of the issues discussed included the problem of some tour operators’ passengers that failed to comply to their return flight schedule just as problems caused by Gratis Visas given by Saudi Foreign Missions in Nigeria; late arrival of some Pilgrims into Madina, among other issues.

    “The National Adillah Establishment is the Saudi Agency in charge of coordinating all pilgrims’ activities in Madina. This includes reception of pilgrims at Air and Land entry points, custody of their passports, liaising with transportation companies and landlords for the provision of transportation and accommodation service and handling any other issue involving pilgrims during their stay in Madina,” the statement added.

  • Hajj commission steps up fight against human trafficking

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that it would soon establish an Umrah (lesser hajj) unit or department to deal with umrah matters as part of measures to eradicate human trafficking and raise the standard of the exercise.

    NAHCON Chairman, Barr. Abdullahi Muhammad said this at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) held at the National Mosque Abuja.

    He stressed that the association has added value to the operations of umrah and hajj in the country.

    He said, “This association has helped greatly from separating the quacks from the professionals while I appreciate the characteristics of the outgoing president.”

    According to him the commission would introduce account officers to deal with individual private tour operators on matters relating to the exercise and their companies; and also ensure that operator register their intending pilgrims on NAHCON’s online registration portal so that they can be vet and to ensure that only genuine intending pilgrims utilize the opportunity of licenses given them.

    While commending the outgoing executives of AHUON for bringing dynamism and raising the status of the industry in the country, he warned the incoming executive not to use the platform of the association for unionism.

    He said there is law regulating the operations in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia hence the need for compliance as erring operators would be out of business.

    The outgoing National President of AHUON, Alhaji Abdulfattah Abdulmajeed, expressed appreciation to NAHCON for its support over the years.

    He urges members of AHUON to give utmost support to the incoming executives of the association.

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Bello who was represented by the Secretary Social Development Secretariat, Alhaji Oladimeji Hassan, said government would sustain the provision of enabling environment for the business to thrive and other issues that affects hajj and umrah operations in Nigeria.

    While commending the association for raising the standard of pilgrimage exercise in the country, he however warned them against duping and cheating intending pilgrims and engaging in other forms of corruption in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration policy.

    He also urged them to strike a balance between profitability and Islam.

    “We also request the association to implore the members to do more. It is not only those in governments that are corrupt but those people siphoning or taking other people’s money,” he added.