2023 Hajj: Remit 50% Hajj slots before February 28 deadline  … NAHCON urges Pilgrims Boards

2023 Hajj: Remit 50% Hajj slots before February 28 deadline

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has fixed February 28 as

deadline for states pilgrims boards to remit 50% deposit for Hajj Slots.

Failure to abide by the agreement reached will lead to either forfeiture or reduction of Hajj slots of such states.

This was contained in a press released signed by the commission’s Assistant Director, Information and Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, and made available to newsmen.

According to the statement,

“Remittance to the Commission in this past week has been abysmal and payment to service providers in Saudi Arabia remains the biggest assurance that Nigeria will participate in this year’s Hajj.

“Therefore, it is necessary to kick things off. By our calendar of events, final remittance to the Commission should be concluded by February 28 in order to conclude our arrangements on time, as we didn’t want to give room to lapses.

“We implore the SPWB/A/C to cooperate with us and ensure compliance with the directive in order to make the Hajj 2023 successful. While reiterating our commitments to all intending pilgrims to ensure that everyone who paid their fare is registered. We urge the states to respect the agreement on the distribution of Hajj quota on the basis of 60% for government pilgrims and 40% for the Hajj Savings Scheme subscribers.

“In the same vein, the Commission is disturbed about cases of Hajj Savings scheme subscribers being discouraged or pressured to withdraw or migrate their deposits from the scheme to the State Board, in order to be registered for this year’s Hajj.

“It should be emphasized that under the 2023 Hajj policy, 40% of intending pilgrims would be from Hajj Savings Scheme, while 60% would be from the government, pay as you go.

“NAHCON will like to assure all the stakeholders that no stone will be left unturned to make sure that the 2023 Hajj arrangements and operations is hitch free.