By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Independent Hajj Reporters, a Civil Society Organisation, CSO, that monitors and reports Hajj exercise, has appealed to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to instruct state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies and commissions to begin early registration of intending pilgrims for 2025 Hajj.
The group, in a statement signed yesterday by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed, said the call became imperative given the short time frame allocated to pre-Hajj activities in the newly released Hajj calendar by the world Hajj regulator, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
It also urged governors to reduce the administrative bureaucracy to allow States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and agencies to execute pre-Hajj activities like the commencement of registration, announcement of fare benchmarks and transferring deposits to NAHCON with little administrative channels, pointing out that “this major issue caused delay in the previous Hajj exercise”.
It pointed out that “delayed registration affects late remittance by states and the behind-schedule remittance of pilgrims deposits by states will obstruct NAHCON’s ability to process and transfer the needed funds to Saudi Arabia’s service providers which will also have a negative influence on their readiness to provide efficient and effective services to pilgrims.
“NAHCON should set its sights on adhering to its Hajj calendar to avoid conflicts with important pre-hajj activities. States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards are the centre of pre-Hajj activities in terms of registration of pilgrims, documentation, orientation and conveyance of funding.
“With the commencement of contracts with service providers on service packages, choice and reservation of spaces in Masha’er set to begin by October 23, Nigeria has less than three months to project the number of pilgrims it will convey to 2025 Hajj.
“More importantly, the issuance of visas is set to begin on February 19, 2025 and end on April 18, 2025. The remaining six months before the commencement of the issuance of visa should be jealously utilised to avoid the late rush hour experienced last year”, it stated.
Since government might not grant concession on exchange rates next year, NAHCON should ask “states to announce initial deposits based on prevailing exchange rates with a pen-down agreement with financial institutions that deposits from pilgrims will be automatically converted to US dollars and receipted as such”, the group advised.
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