As preparations for the 2025 annual Hajj exercise intensify, the National Hajj Commission has sought the support, advice, and intervention of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to ensure the success of its mandate. The Commission’s Chairman, Abdullahi Saleh Usman, led a delegation of senior officials to Senator Wamakko’s Gawon Nama residence in Sokoto over the weekend.
In his address, Usman explained that the visit was part of the Commission’s nationwide tour aimed at fostering collaboration, building understanding, and sensitizing the public to ensure a smooth Hajj operation across the country. He commended Senator Wamakko, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, for his ongoing contributions to national development.
“We have already visited Borno, Lagos, and Kebbi states, and today we are in Sokoto, considering the vital role you (Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko) have played in assisting the affairs of the Commission,” Usman said, while also urging the senator to help find solutions to the rising cost of Hajj fares, particularly those related to airline services, due to skyrocketing foreign exchange rates.
Usman disclosed that Nigeria has been allocated 95,000 Hajj seats for the upcoming exercise, but he expressed concern over the short time frame for acquiring the slots, as a result of delayed fare payments. He urged Senator Wamakko, representing Sokoto North District, to advocate for increased efforts from state governors in sensitizing intending pilgrims.
Usman also emphasized the importance of Hajj agencies, boards, and commissions encouraging early payments by pilgrims to meet Saudi Arabia’s deadlines and ensure smooth preparations for the 2025 Hajj. He addressed issues with Hajj fares, noting that while some airlines have agreed to reduce prices, others remain unresponsive.
The Chairman appealed to Senator Wamakko for assistance in negotiating better deals with airlines and advocated for Hajj registration fees to be paid in Nigerian currency, which he argued would be more affordable than foreign currency options. He also pointed out that late registration by state Hajj agencies often results in Nigerian pilgrims being accommodated far from the Holy Mosque, stressing that early registration would secure closer accommodations.
Additionally, Usman recommended the establishment of a Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS), which would allow intending pilgrims to save in installments through Islamic banks over several years.
