The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced preparations for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. On Thursday, June 5, 2024, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management, and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazaq, led the first virtual preparatory meeting with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU). The meeting also included representatives from the Saudi Immigration Service and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Attending the meeting from Nigeria were the Commissioner for Operations, Inspectorate and Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi, the Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics and Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof. Abubakar Yagawal, and other senior management staff of NAHCON.
During the meeting, Alhaji Abdulrazaq praised the MOHU for its success in organizing the 2024 Hajj and confirmed that NAHCON has already begun planning for the 2025 pilgrimage. He highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation between both parties to address challenges faced by Nigerian pilgrims during the previous Hajj.
Dr. Badr Assulamy, Director General of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, outlined the timeline for 2025 Hajj preparations, emphasizing the importance of meeting deadlines for early payment of Hajj fares, completing contracts with service providers, and issuing licenses to air carriers. Dr. Assulamy also announced that visa issuance for the 2025 Hajj would begin on February 19, 2025, and urged NAHCON to ensure all visas are processed before the deadline.
He further advised NAHCON to secure better locations in Mina for Nigerian pilgrims by collaborating with service providers and ensuring early payment of Hajj fares. He stressed the importance of vaccinating all pilgrims against yellow fever, COVID-19, meningitis, and other diseases, and required that any medical conditions such as cancer or diabetes be disclosed during registration.
Alhaji Abdulrazaq raised concerns about some of the challenges faced by Nigerian pilgrims in 2024, including a shortage of toilets in Mina, transportation issues from Muzdalifa to Mina, and problems with tent allocations, despite Nigeria paying for extra space. He also highlighted complaints of harassment faced by pilgrims due to inactive NUSUK identity cards, urging the Saudi authorities to address these issues ahead of the 2025 pilgrimage.
Ms. Rawan Alassaf, a representative from the Saudi Ministry, introduced an awareness platform for 2025 Hajj that provides interactive learning tools for pilgrims in Makkah and Madina. She invited NAHCON to assign a communication officer to collaborate with the ministry in developing content specifically for Nigerian pilgrims.
In closing, Alhaji Abdulrazaq reiterated the need to resolve the challenges encountered during the 2024 Hajj to ensure a smoother and more fulfilling experience for Nigerian pilgrims in 2025. Nigeria’s quota for the 2025 Hajj remains at 95,000 slots, with 75,000 allocated to government pilgrims and 20,000 to the private sector.