The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has signed Memorandum of Understanding with four financial institutions, towards strengthening its Hajj Savings Scheme.
This was disclosed in a press statement, signed by the NAHCON’s Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Fatima Sanda Usara, on Monday.
The statement which she signed on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman/CEO, Prof Abdullahi Saleh Usman, revealed that the participating institutions include: Alternative Bank, Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank and TAJ Bank.
Usara pointed out that under the new partnership, the banks are mandated to launch user-friendly pilgrims’ registration portals and manage HSS funds strictly in line with Islamic finance principles, adding that each bank is expected to develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap designed to ensure transparency, protect pilgrims’ interests, and expand nationwide access to the scheme.
NAHCON Chairman in his address at the signing ceremony, explained that the HSS provides a structured pathway for Nigerians to plan early for Hajj, adding that many prospective pilgrims are eager to enroll but limited by inadequate awareness.
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Prof Usman said NAHCON, in collaboration with the banks, will intensify sensitization efforts through the Ulama, traditional and digital media, to deepen public understanding of the long-term benefits of the scheme, commending the commitment of the HSS Unit and the partner banks for advancing the scheme.
Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance (PPMF), Prince Abdulrazaq Aliu congratulated the partner banks and noted that they were selected based on their proven capacity to deliver, stressing the need for a performance review matrix and periodic assessment to measure the progress and impact of the scheme.
He reaffirmed that NAHCON will provide the required platform, guidelines, and regulatory support for the success of HSS.
In his submission at the signing, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi described the measure as a lifeline of Hajj operation looking at Saudi’s vision 2030, saying that there is no way Nigeria would continue planning for Hajj in the traditional way and expect to meet up with the Saudi arrangements.
He expressed confidence that with the HSS, Nigeria will produce readily registered pilgrims in future when Saudi requests for data.
In his remarks at the event, Commissioner of Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof. Abubakar Yagawal expressed delight that with this new invigoration of the HSS Nigeria’s Hajj problem is solved by 99.9 percent, envisaging Nigeria towing the lines of countries like Indonesia in the Hajj arena.
With the signing of MoU, the banks are now formally authorized to deploy their digital platforms for the enrollment of intending pilgrims and to invest pilgrims’ deposits in approved halal ventures.
NAHCON confirmed that each of the institutions had previously demonstrated their portal prototypes to the Commission.
The signing was attended by Malam Garba Mohammed and Mohammed Abdul, for The Alternative Bank; Dr. Haruna Musa, Managing Director, and Alhassan Abdulkareem for Jaiz Bank; Akin Adekoke for Lotus Bank and Alhaji Hameed Joda, Managing Director, TAJ Bank.
Dr Haruna Musa on behalf of the banks appreciated NAHCON and promised the firms’ commitment to the success of the scheme, promising to leverage technology in creating awareness and not forgetting traditional means.
He assured that with the success of HSS, Hajj will become a whole new experience for Nigerian pilgrims.
