The Chairman, CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has given Friday 28th April as deadline for 2023 Hajj fare remittance by boards, agencies and commissions of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare managers.
The directive was handed down after a meeting with Chief Executives of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/ Agencies/Commissions held Wednesday in the Hajj House, headquarters of NAHCON.
The decision was the resolve of the marathon meeting with the stakeholders and managers of Hajj services.
It was gathered that the meeting addressed critical issues hinging on remittances of Hajj fare by pilgrims in order to finalize on number of eligible enrollees for the 2023 Hajj from Nigeria. The number of the fully paid intending pilgrims would determine the airlift agreements with the airlines.
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According to Alhaji Hassan, the Commission would gladly work with any amount remitted by Friday deadline and subsequently sign agreements for the 2023 airlift to Saudi Arabia based on that number.
He explained that 50% down payment to the air carriers is expected upon signing of agreement while another 35% would follow after deployment of aircraft for the airlift by the carriers.
The NAHCON highest ranking officer lamented that the remittance had to take this long bearing in mind that all other arrangements depend on the confirmed number of Hajj fare payers before conclusion.
It would be recalled that deadline for Hajj fare remittance had been extended on several occasions since January 2023.
