NAHCON Confirms Suspension Of Hajj Fare Subsidy By Federal Government Ahead Of 2025 Pilgrimage

NAHCON Confirms Suspension Of Hajj Fare Subsidy By Federal Government Ahead Of 2025 Pilgrimage....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Muslims planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj may face increased costs as the Nigerian federal government has decided to suspend subsidies for Hajj payments. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed this development in a statement issued on Monday by spokesperson Fatima Sanda Usara…….CONTINUE READING 

Typically, government subsidies are provided through a concessionary exchange rate, allowing pilgrims to purchase dollars at a lower rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). However, Usara stated, “There will be no concessionary exchange rate from the government for Hajj fare payment for pilgrims, whether through state or private Hajj operators.”

As a result, if the naira remains at its current exchange rate of ₦1,650 to a dollar, each prospective pilgrim will need to pay nearly ₦10 million for Hajj fare, given that the cost is at least $6,000, according to Naija News. While NAHCON has not yet announced the official Hajj fare for 2025, State Pilgrims Welfare Boards have begun requesting initial deposits of ₦8.5 million from pilgrims in anticipation of the fare announcement.

Additionally, the statement mentioned that every Nigerian pilgrim participating in the 2023 Hajj would receive a refund of 64,682 (150 Saudi Riyal).

These updates were provided during an interactive meeting between NAHCON and members of the Private Tour Operators in Nigeria (PTOs). The meeting, held on October 7, 2024, was to brief members on resolutions following the recent resumption of office by the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Sale Pakistan, who had briefly traveled.

NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, chaired the virtual meeting with PTOs, relaying new developments from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU) and NAHCON’s decisions made during the second Executive Committee meeting with the new head of the Commission.

Elegushi indicated that Saudi Arabia had reduced the number of Pilgrim Transport Operators (PTOs) from the initially announced 20 to 10, with each company now required to register at least 2,000 pilgrims to qualify for Hajj visa approval. He also noted that NAHCON is still gathering information regarding the 2022 refunds.

Currently, refund details have only been released for PTOs operating in Field Office 18 in 2022, which are set to collectively receive SR62,602 (₦26,993,224) due to inadequate meal provisions in the Masha’ir.

Furthermore, the Commissioner of Operations informed PTO members that NAHCON’s Executive Committee has approved the option of using a bank guarantee as payment of ₦40 million in caution deposit for the 2025 Hajj. Operators wishing to utilize a bank guarantee but who have already made a cash deposit are encouraged to request a refund of their earlier deposit.

He clarified that, contrary to claims that NAHCON owes PTOs ₦17 billion from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of ₦25 million, the commission only received ₦2 billion, including ₦750 million from 110 companies registered for the 2024 Hajj. This amount included a rollover of ₦1 billion and ₦250 million from the previous year. Of this, 30 companies requested refunds totaling ₦750 million, which have been paid, leaving a balance of ₦750 million still held by the commission for undecided PTOs.

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