The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has set a deadline of February 14 for licensed private tour operators in the country involved in Hajj operations to remit fares paid by their intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj into their respective Internation Bank Account Number (IBAN) accounts to meet up with visa issuance by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia beginning from February 19.
This was disclosed by NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullah Saleh Usman, during a meeting with the tour operators Thursday night in the commission’s office at Ummul Jud, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where preparations for the 2025 Hajj operations were discussed.
According to NAHCON Assistant Director, Information and Publications, Fatima Sanda Usara, while reminding participants at the meeting of the essence of their being in Saudi Arabia at this time, the Chairman called on all to focus on promoting understanding towards improving service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims.
Usara informed that Usman further reminded both NAHCON officials and the licensed private tour operators that they were in Saudi Arabia now to improve service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims coming to the Holy Land this year to perform the Hajj spiritual exercise.
He, therefore, called for questions, observations, suggestions and constructive criticism from participants at the meeting.
Usara informed that the meeting resolved that the licensed private tour operators were free to affiliate with any of the 10 leading companies across the zones, except where the lead company had reached the 2,000 pilgrims limit. Hence the 10 lead companies remain unchanged.
She added that NAHCON and the tour operators reaffirmed their commitment to adhere to their common interest which is providing the best services for pilgrims while maintaining inclusivity in the process.
According to her, both parties expressed the need to accommodate one another for a seamless Hajj exercise to be achieved.
Thursday’s meeting with the licensed private tour operators came on the heels of a similar meeting held with Executive Secretaries of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards by the NAHCON Chairman alongside the commission’s top management officials, including its commissioners, on Sunday, January 12.
It was resolved at the meeting that both parties would work together in the best interest of Nigerian pilgrims.
Nigerian stakeholders in the Hajj industry are in Saudi Arabia to participate in this year’s Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition holding in Jeddah as part of preparations for the 2025 Hajj.
The Nigerian delegation on Sunday signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2025 Hajj exercise with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Jeddah, officially formalised engagements between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on this year’s Hajj exercise.
While NAHCON Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, signed on behalf of Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfatah Masahat, signed on behalf of the Kingdom.
The Nigerian delegation to the event, led by Prof Usman, included Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage, Honourable Jafaru Muhammed Ali; Nigeria’s Chargé de Affairs in Riyadh, Dr Ibrahim Modibbo; Nigeria’s Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Mu’azzam I. J. Nayaya and Ambassador Mahmud Lele from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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