The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Saleh Usman, has announced an extension of the deadline for registration for the 2025 Hajj to February 10, 2025. This decision comes after appeals from intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration by the initial January 31, 2025, deadline.
During a Zoom meeting with key Hajj stakeholders on Tuesday night, the NAHCON Chairman urged the Executive Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to cooperate with the Commission to ensure timely payment transfers, noting the importance of funds for securing accommodation in Saudi Arabia.
Usman emphasized that Saudi Arabia has set February 14, 2025, as the final deadline for contract signings. This means that all payments must reach the designated Saudi bank account before this date for pilgrims to be recognized on the e-track (Nusuk Masar) registration portal. He stressed the urgency of early remittance due to the time required for international transfers.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Anofiu Elegushi, suggested that pilgrims who can afford the Hajj fare excluding the $5,000 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) should proceed with their payments and source the BTA separately. He pointed out that some pilgrims were only short of ₦200,000 in completing their payments due to the previous registration closure.
The forum of state Executive Secretaries, led by Idris Almakura, called for immediate fund remittance, emphasizing that any delay could result in contract cancellations, as seen in previous years. Additionally, Alhaji Faruku Yaro, the Executive Secretary of Kebbi State, urged pilgrims to take advantage of favorable exchange rates before market fluctuations affect the Hajj cost structure.
The stakeholders also discussed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) proposal to disburse BTA via credit cards, a move that many participants opposed, citing potential difficulties it could cause for pilgrims.
Regular Zoom meetings will be held until all contracts are finalized.
