The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has extended the deadline for 2025 Hajj registration.
The new deadline is February 10, 2025, according to a statement issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publications, NAHCON.
Usara said NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, announced the deadline extension at a virtual meeting involving the commission and key Hajj stakeholders on Tuesday, February 4, 2024.
“The decision, according to Prof Saleh, follows appeals on behalf of intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration on time,” her statement read.
The NAHCON Chairman urged Executive Secretaries (ES) of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to cooperate with the Commission to ensure timely transfer of funds, noting it’s crucial for securing accommodations that have already been inspected and booked.
“It is important to note that Saudi Arabia has set February 14, 2025, as the deadline for contract signings. This means all payments must reach the designated IBAN account in Saudi Arabia before that date to be recognized on the e-track (Nusuk Masar) registration portal. Given the time required for international transfers, early remittance is essential,” the NAHCON boss said at the meeting held on Zoom.
NAHCON’s 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 travel allowance separately.
He noted that some pilgrims fell short by ₦200,000, preventing them from completing their payments despite reaching the required Hajj fare amount.
For his part, Malam Idris Almakura, Executive Secretary (ES) of Nasarawa and Chairman of the Forum of States, advised his colleagues to remit available funds immediately rather than waiting for the deadline.
Almakura emphasized the importance of transferring funds before the physical meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The Hajj stakeholders, meanwhile, agreed to hold regular Zoom meetings until all contracts are finalized.
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