Tag: HAJJ

NAHCON clears Hajj fare refunds for 19 states

Aminu Imam
NAHCON Hajj fare

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), says it has completed the reconciliation of Hajj fare refunds for 19 states from the 2025 pilgrimage exercise, dismissing reports of delays in settling accounts. The Deputy Director of Finance and Accounts at the Commission, Rabiu Na’Allah, confirmed the development yesterday, stating that all states which requested reconciliation of their pilgrims’ refunds have been duly settled as of Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The clarification comes amid speculation that unresolved 2025 accounts might delay preparations for the 2026 exercise. Recall that the Commission has…

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President Tinubu appoints new NAHCON Chairman

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) pending the confirmation by the Senate.  This appointment effectively removes the previous Chairman, Jalal Arabi in the face of corruption allegations. Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan. He previously served as Chairman of the Kano State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, successfully overseeing the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country. According to a statement…

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Hajj 2024; The New Dimensions

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Fatima Sanda Usara. To start with, Saudi Arabia has made its stand clear to which there seems no retraction; any party that delays Hajj remittances for any reason, may have to wait for another year to perform Hajj. Be it the delay were from pilgrims, their officials, the State Governors or even from NAHCON, that will be end of story if it exceeds Saudi’s visa processing deadline. Hence, the Visa e-track portal, that is, the Saudi e-track portal, will be locked by 29th April, beyond NAHCON’s reach. No room…

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Hajj 2024: CSO advocates early registration of intending Pilgrims by Nigerian authorities

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. A civil society organisation, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), have called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and States Muslim Pilgrims Boards/agenciesp in Nigeria to immediately begin the registration of intending Pilgrims for Hajj 2024. IHR a CSO that monitors and reports on Hajj and Umrah activities in a statement in Abuja, signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed said the call became necessary due to the change in the Calendar of Hajj activities by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah following the…

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2023 Hajj: IHR calls for early 2024 preparations, lauds stakeholders, calls for review

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. As the Hajj 2023 comes to an end with the airlift of the last batch of Nigerian pilgrims back home, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities, has called for early preparations for 2024 operations, quick review of this year’s while lauding stakeholders for the successes recorded.  The call was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of IHR, Ibrahim Muhammed. IHR acknowledged the efforts and support jointly extended to the cause of 2023…

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Hajj: NAHCON airlifts all Nigerian pilgrims back ahead of Aug 3rd deadline

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON has completed the airlift of all Nigerian pilgrims back home from Saudi Arabia, ahead of the August 3rd deadline it set for the inbound flight. NAHCON on Monday 31 July beats it deadline with the airlift of 302 pilgrims, 16 officials by AZMAN Airline flight AZM2361 from Jeddah to Kaduna in total of 183 flights. The Chairman and CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan expressed appreciation and gratitude to Nigerians for their tremendous support for the Commission during the…

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Over 53,000 Nigerian Pilgrims airlifted back home… August 3rd sets for final flight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. About three weeks into the commencement of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi, over 53,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to Nigeria in 136 flights, with August 3rd set for the final flight. The in-bound operation began on July 4th with the airlift of 387 Sokoto pilgrims by Flynas; a Saudi base airline after the completion of the symbolic stoning of the Jamrats and completion of Hajj rites. Though initially bedeviled by non-provision of slots to many of the airlines, except the Flynas;…

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Ringing the bell of 2024 Hajj… for the ears of Hajj administrators

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Ibrahim Muhammed “A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”  Anonymous Recently, Independent Hajj Reporters released a public statement urging NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Boards to immediately activate the process of registering intending pilgrims that wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj. The statement hinged its call on the early release of the 2024 Hajj calendar by the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah – detailing the allotted date for each major preparatory event preceding the 2024 Hajj days. In reaction, some critical…

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The Guardian Gafe on 2023 Hajj

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The attention of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been drawn to the lead story in the Friday, July 21, 2023 edition of The Guardian Newspaper with the caption “Tears, Complaint Trails Nigeria’s Hajj… N304 Billion Capital flight to Makkah.”  The Guardian as one of the leading lights of Nigerian print journalism for decades, has a reputation for promoting fair reportage and analyses of issues and events.  This, however, was not the case with the seemingly sponsored story under reference purported to be The Guardian’s evaluation of the…

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Armed Forces Pilgrims decry abandonment at Jeddah Airport, more than 24 hours after leaving Makkah

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. Nigerian Armed Forces Pilgrims to the 2023 Hajj have decried being abandoned in Jeddah Airport more than 24 hours after being evacuated from Makkah by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON for a 7pm flight Saturday.  Speaking to Voice of Liberty and Liberty News via phone, one of the pilgrims,  a retired General said they left Makkah 5pm Saturday 22 July, 2023 for a stipulated 7pm flight to Lagos by Azman, but later delayed to 5pm “with scanty information”. In his word “we left Mecca…

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