The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has reeled out major achievements of the Commission under the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, assuring that the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims remains a top priority.
Professor Usman made the remarks while addressing members of the North West Governors’ Forum in Katsina, where he provided a comprehensive account of reforms and interventions that have strengthened the management of Hajj operations in the country.
According to him, despite prevailing economic challenges, the Commission, with the support of President Tinubu, introduced bold measures that not only stabilized the 2024 Hajj exercise but also brought relief to Nigerian pilgrims.
The NAHCON Chairman revealed that the President approved ₦90 billion to cushion the impact of foreign exchange on 2024 Hajj fares and an additional ₦24 billion to offset the 2023 airline debts.
This intervention, he noted, saved Nigerian carriers from imminent collapse and ensured smooth airlift operations.
He further disclosed that President Tinubu directed all airlines involved in the Hajj exercise to accept payment in local currency, thereby shielding pilgrims from the harsh effects of foreign exchange fluctuations.
On reforms, Professor Usman said the Commission suspended the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) credit card policy for Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), which had posed difficulties for many pilgrims, and instead expanded the Hajj Saving Scheme to enable intending pilgrims to gradually save towards fulfilling the religious obligation.
In line with its transparency and accountability mandate, NAHCON also refunded ₦5.3 billion to various State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards for services that were not provided during the 2023 Hajj.
On welfare and logistics, the Chairman highlighted that NAHCON successfully secured VIP Tent ‘A+’ facilities, adjusted contracts to match actual pilgrim numbers, and ensured that over 98 percent of medical supplies were provided, with health personnel fully mobilized to Saudi Arabia.
Professor Usman emphasized that Nigerian pilgrims recorded significant cost savings during the exercise.
These included a 720 Riyals reduction in Mashair services, 200 Riyals savings on Madinah accommodation, 303 Riyals reduction in transportation costs, as well as airfare cuts across all regions.
“These achievements,” he said, “are a direct reflection of the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the strong support of leaders like Governor Dikko Umar Radda. With continued partnership, NAHCON is determined to consolidate these gains and improve on the delivery of services to Nigerian pilgrims.”
The Chairman’s presentation, observers noted, underscores NAHCON’s commitment to reforming Hajj administration in line with international best practices while also easing the financial burden on Nigerian pilgrims.