The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has announced that the number of lead companies earlier slated to spearhead the conduct of the 2025 Hajj from the private sector has been reduced.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, on Tuesday.
Usara disclosed that Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, a Commissioner in the Hajj body, made the announcement during an interactive meeting with members of the Private Tour Operators in Nigeria.
Elegushi, according to Usara, said instead of 20, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reduced the number of PTOs to 10.
In addition, the Ministry has stipulated that each company must register a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to be considered for Hajj visa approval.
The Commissioner further informed AHOUN members that some details have been received on the 2023 Hajj refunds, saying that all 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims that travelled for Hajj that year from both states and private operators are to receive SR150 each as refund.
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He confirmed that NAHCON has already started working towards making the payments.
The statement reads in part: “As for 2022 refund, the Commission is still awaiting further details, however Prince Elegushi revealed that refund details have emerged only for PTOs that camped on Field Office 18 in 2022. They are to collectively receive SR62, 602 (sixty-two thousand six hundred and two thousand Saudi Riyals) as refund for poor feeding in the Masha’ir.
“Similarly, the Commissioner of Operations informed the PTO members that the NAHCON’s EXCO has approved the option of honouring Bank Guarantee as payment of N40 million Caution Deposit for the 2025 Hajj. In view of the above, any operator who wishes to make the payment through Bank Guarantee but has already made cash deposit is invited to request for collection of the earlier deposit in order to present the Bank Guarantee.
“Furthermore, the registration deadline was extended to 11:59 pm Friday 11th October to accommodate registration through the Bank Guarantee or cash deposit. Prince Elegushi advised that due to time and procedural constraints, members wishing to take the Bank Guarantee option can raise a Bank Draft of the Caution Deposit amount and retrieve it after the Bank Guarantee is ready. The retrieval can be done even after deadline of registration. The Commissioner expressed concern over time limitation as reason for the advice.”
Usara also stated that for the 2025 Hajj, there will be no concessionary exchange rate from government for Hajj fare payment for pilgrims whether under state or private Hajj operators.
Prince Elegushi also clarified that contrary to claims that NAHCON owes PTOs N17 billion from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of N25 million, he explained that the Commission received only N2.750 billion from 110 companies that registered for the 2024 Hajj, adding that the amount included a roll-over of N1.250 billion from the previous year.
As part of efforts to curtail hitches for the 2025 Hajj and current Umrah operations, the statement confirmed that relevant officers of the Commission under the Acting Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Sale, with selected members of the PTOs will visit Saudi Arabia soon to seek a headway in contentious issues such as trapped IBAN deposits, unexplained refunds and limited number of Umrah visa.
Meanwhile, the Private Tour Operators thanked NAHCON for the regular briefings, which they described as an effort aimed at breaching the communication gap.
The Eagle Online reports that Sale has been absent briefly, due to a trip to Pakistan.
He assumed office last week in acting capacity.
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