Tag: NAHCON

2024 Hajj: ?NAHCON begins prospective pilgrims’ vaccinationin Kebbi

Aminu Imam
Kebbi Hajj 2024

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), has initiated the vaccination of 2024, intending pilgrims against polio, meningitis, diphtheria, and yellow fever in Kebbi. The vaccination campaign was inaugurated at the Dr. Nasir Idris Hajj Camp in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, by the Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Sa’id Ahmad. ?Dr. Ahmad emphasised the mandatory nature of the vaccines for all prospective pilgrims, under the directive of the Saudi Arabian government. “The vaccination exercise is very timely, especially as the first inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Nigeria on May…

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2024 Hajj: Over 50,000 Nigerians to perform pilgrimage – NAHCON

Aminu Imam

No fewer than 50,000 Nigerians will be airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has disclosed. The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Arabi, made the disclosure at a news conference held at Hajj House on Friday, in Abuja. Arabi said the Commission had put in place necessary arrangements to ensure a successful Hajj operation. He stated that Nigerian Muslims would perform the 2024 Hajj in a number that nobody had ever imagined. ”This year’s Hajj preparations is one…

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Umrah: Tour Operators decry visas’ racketeering

Aminu Imam

…Now sold as high as N2m Nigeria’s Independent Tour Operators have decried the racketeering in Umrah visa processing, making it difficult for Nigerians willing to embark on the Umrah trip to get visas to carry on with the journey to Saudi Arabia. With Umrah visa, which hitherto cost N250,000, currently sold as high as N2million, the Tour Operators said they were deeply worried over the challenges being faced by Nigerian Muslims in obtaining visas to travel to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj in this month of Ramadan, saying it…

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2024 Hajj: Intending pilgrims demand refund, after NAHCON raised fees to N6.8m 

Aminu Imam

Nigerian Muslim intending pilgrims, who had earlier paid for a trip to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, have started demanding for refund after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), instructed them to pay another N1.9million.  Recall that the Commission, on Sunday, increased the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91 while setting a deadline of March 28, 2024.  It had in December 2023 fixed a fare of N4.9million per pilgrim based on an exchange rate of N897 to a dollar.  However, in its recent announcement…

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Tinubu appoints 11 Board members for Hajj Commission

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, approved the appointment of 11 persons as members of the new board and management team for the National Hajj Commission, (NAHCON), pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. A statement, titled: ‘President Tinubu appoints National Hajj Commission Board and Management team’, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that Tinubu made the new appointments based on “his resolve to ensure hitch-free and seamless 2024 Hajj operations”. They include Jalal Arabi, who was appointed Chairman last October, Aliu AbdulRazaq as Commissioner, Policy,…

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Smooth Hajj 2024: The need to appoint remaining NAHCON board members

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Muhammed Ibrahim. By the provisions of section 3 of its establishment act, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), as captured in sub section (a) is expected to be composed of a Chairman, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is responsible for the day to day running of the commission.  Sub-Sections B to D of the said section 3, states that the commission is also expected to have three full time members and six part time members representing each geo political zone provided that two of…

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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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