The Acting Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi hosted the Executive Secretaries/Chairmen (ES/C) of States’ Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies, Boards and Commissions (SPWBs) and the Armed Forces with a plea to do everything possible to prune down 2024 Hajj fare.
Mallam Arabi also charged the Executive Secretaries/Chairmen to appreciate the value of Hajj Savings Scheme, HSS accept and adopt it despite some reservations.
The parley took place Thursday, 30th November 2023, at the Hajj House NAHCON headquarters Abuja, to review plans towards successful 2024 Hajj Operations.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman urged the state ES/Cs to explore possible ways of reducing the 2024 Hajj fare to enable interested pilgrims to enroll. He requested the E/Cs to remit the deposits they have so far received into the NAHCON Central Bank Account as the figures will determine next line of action.
Malam Arabi encouraged them to intensify enlightenment in their environs reminding intending pilgrims to hasten in making deposits before it is too late.
The NAHCON Acting Chairman commended them for their resilience and unison in carrying out the campaigns so far.
In his words, “there is no time, so you have to remit whatever amount paid to your accounts for the Commission to arrange pre-Hajj visit to negotiate the necessary services for our intending pilgrims.” He was optimistic that “our public will ultimately appreciate the outcome of our plans to reduce the 2024 Hajj fare.”
The Chairman expressed understanding of the challenges experienced by the SPWBs in remitting the deposits reiterating that NAHCON will gladly intervene between the ES/Cs and their respective principals where there are difficulties if they invite the commission to do so.
On the Hajj Savings Scheme, the Chairman stated that it is the future that will guarantee planning in line with Saudi Hajj policies. He therefore urged all states to embrace it saying “We should indeed appreciate the value of the Hajj Savings Scheme, accept and adopt it despite some reservations, so that we can inculcate it in our planning as we forge ahead.”
The meeting concluded with strong hope that as soon as the remittances are made with clear statistics of registered pilgrims known, this would lead to Hajj fare computation that would equally lead to announcement of the final hajj fare.
