NAHCON Extends 2025 Hajj Registration Deadline to February 10
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has announced that the registration deadline for the 2025 Hajj has been extended to February 10, 2025. This decision was made in response to requests from intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration before the initial deadline.
Prof. Usman shared the news during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, which was attended by key stakeholders in the Hajj sector. He urged the Executive Secretaries (ES) of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to collaborate with NAHCON to ensure timely fund transfers. These funds are crucial for securing accommodation that has already been inspected and reserved for Nigerian pilgrims.
“The deadline for contract signings set by Saudi Arabia is February 14, 2025. Therefore, all payments must be made into the designated IBAN account in Saudi Arabia before this date in order to be acknowledged on the e-track (Nusuk Masar) registration portal. Given the time required for international transfers, early payments are essential,” Prof. Usman stated.
The Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, recommended that pilgrims who can afford the full Hajj fare, excluding the $500 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), should begin making payments while sourcing the travel allowance separately. He noted that some pilgrims had been unable to complete their payment due to a shortfall of ₦200,000, despite having met the overall fare requirement.
Echoing these concerns, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Hajj Board and chairman of the Forum of States, Malam Idris Almakura, encouraged his colleagues to remit available funds immediately, rather than waiting for the final deadline. He emphasized the importance of transferring funds ahead of the upcoming physical meeting on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of Kebbi State and deputy chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Faruku Yaro, urged his counterparts to quickly deposit all payments made by pilgrims into NAHCON’s CBN account. He warned that delays could lead to contract cancellations, as seen in the previous year, and advised taking advantage of the favorable foreign exchange rates to avoid potential disruptions in costs.