The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman has announced an extension of the registration deadline for the 2025 Hajj to February 10, 2025.
The extension comes in response to appeals to the Commission for extension by intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration in time.
Prof Usman made the announcement during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, with key stakeholders in the Hajj sector in attendance.
The NAHCON boss called upon the Executive Secretaries (ES) of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to work in collaboration with the Commission to ensure the timely transfer of funds, which is essential for securing accommodation that have already been inspected and reserved.
“It is crucial to note that Saudi Arabia has established February 14, 2025, as the deadline for contract signings. Therefore, all payments must be received in the designated IBAN account in Saudi Arabia prior to this date in order to be acknowledged on the e-track (Nusuk Masar) registration portal. Given the time needed for international transfers, early remittance is paramount,” NAHCON boss said.
During the meeting, the Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, suggested that those pilgrims who can afford the Hajj fare, excluding the $500 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), should begin their payments while sourcing the travel allowance separately.
He highlighted that some individuals fell short by ₦200,000, which hindered their ability to complete payment despite having met the overall Hajj fare requirement.
Echoing the chairman’s sentiments, Executive Secretary of Nasarawa State Hajj Board and chairman of the Forum of States, Malam Idris Almakura encouraged his colleagues to remit available funds immediately rather than waiting for the final deadline.
He stressed the importance of transferring funds before the upcoming physical meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
In a similar vein, ES of Kebbi State and deputy chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Faruku Yaro urged his peers to swiftly deposit all payments made by pilgrims into NAHCON’s CBN account.
He cautioned that any delays could result in contract cancellations as witnessed in the previous year.
Yaro also advised on the need to take advantage of the current favourable foreign exchange rates to mitigate potential disruptions in costs.