The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has given Friday, 28th April as the deadline for complete Hajj fares remittance by boards, agencies and commissions of state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare managers.
The chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan gave the ultimatum on Wednesday during a marathon meeting with the chief executives of state Pilgrims Welfare Board, agencies and commissions in Abuja.
According to a statement by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, the meeting was to address critical issues hinging on remittances of Hajj fare by intending pilgrims to finalise the number of eligible enrollees for the 2023 Hajj from Nigeria, adding that this would determine the figures with which to sign agreements with airlines.
Hassan declared that the commission would gladly work with any amount remitted by Friday’s deadline and subsequently sign agreements for the 2023 airlift to Saudi Arabia based on the number of those who complied with the directive.
He explained: “Fifty per cent down payment to the air carriers is expected upon signing of agreement while another 35 per cent would follow after deployment of aircraft for the airlift by the carriers.”
The chairman lamented that the remittance had to take this long bearing in mind that all other arrangements depend on the confirmed number of Hajj fare payers before arriving at any conclusion.
It was reported that the deadline for Hajj fare remittance was extended on several occasions since January 2023.
In another development, the Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics and Library Studies, Prince Sheikh Suleman Momoh revealed that the screening of the first batch of medical personnel for the 2023 Hajj will hold on Thursday, 27th April, while orientation and other ceremonies would follow after confirmation of successful candidates.
