Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh has expressed the commission’s readiness to provide seamless Hajj operations, beginning with the inaugural flight on May 9.
Saleh said this at the National Hajj Stakeholders Summit with the theme; ‘Sustainable Hajj Financing: Developing a Resilient Model for Nigerian Pilgrims and Operators.”
Speaking at the summit organised by NAHCON, Hajj Institute of Nigeria, HIN, in collaboration with Jaiz Bank, Saleh said the commission, in its role as the regulator of Hajj affairs in Nigeria and the Hajj mission for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, is fully prepared for the operation.
“The federal government has licensed four airlines for the air lifting of over 40,000 pilgrims, excluding more than 14,000 traveling with tour operators.
“The inaugural flight is scheduled for May 9 and with the grace of Allah, we anticipate seamless operations,’’ he said
He urged relevant stakeholders to remain united and committed to providing effective and efficient services to the “respected guests of Allah”, thereby reinforcing the renewed hope for pilgrims.
The NAHCON chairman thanked President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their continuous support and timely interventions in resolving the challenges facing the 2025 Hajj.
He listed such support to include the significant provision of Basic Travel Allowance, BTA, in cash.
According to him, this will provide great relief to pilgrims, operators and the regulator.
He said the summit provided a crucial platform for relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors to collectively examine and address matters vital to the sustainable future of Hajj operations.
Saleh expressed confidence that the summit would provide practical administrative and operational frameworks for Hajj financing in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima said the administration of President Tinubu had demonstrated unwavering commitment to ensure the success and improvement of Hajj operations in the last two years.
The vice president, represented by Mr Bashir Maidugu, said recognising the spiritual significance of Hajj to millions of Nigerians, the federal government had consistently provided the necessary support, including facilitating timely foreign exchange allocations for pilgrims to diplomatic engagements with Saudi authorities, and securing better terms and conditions for Nigerians.
