The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the airlift for Nigerian pilgrims intending to participate in the 2025 Hajj will commence on May 9. According to a statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, 43,000 pilgrims have paid for the pilgrimage out of the 75 slots allocated to the state government. This figure is 9,000 less than the 52,000 slots the commission initially stated it had paid for.

The announcement followed a meeting between NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board Executive Secretaries, under the Forum of States, to assess the preparedness of the state pilgrims’ boards. NAHCON’s chairman, Prof. Abdullah Saleh Usman, emphasized the importance of updating NAHCON on the progress of visa production, vaccination efforts, procurement of bags, and other essential matters. Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, detailed the allocation of pilgrims to various airlines. Air Peace will transport 5,128 pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, and Taraba states. FlyNas has been assigned 12,506 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Max Air is responsible for airlifting pilgrims from Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Oyo, and Plateau states, aiming to complete the airlift of its 15,203 pilgrims by May 24. Umza has been allocated 10,163 pilgrims from Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger, and Yobe states.

During a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chairman of NAHCON briefed him on the Hajj preparations for 2025. The Vice President expressed satisfaction with the progress and urged the commission to ensure the success of the Hajj exercise, emphasizing the importance of a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience for all Nigerian pilgrims.

In a related development, the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards have rejected a proposal to disburse the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to pilgrims upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj. This decision was made during a pre-hajj preparatory meeting in Abuja between NAHCON, State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards executives, and airline representatives. The rejection stems from concerns about the practicality and convenience of the proposed arrangement. Stakeholders have previously rejected the idea of receiving BTA through credit cards due to the predominantly rural background of pilgrims and limited ATM accessibility near the holy mosques.

Taj Bank had proposed disbursing BTA in Saudi Riyals through agents stationed in Saudi Arabia. However, the Chairman of the Forum of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Alhaji Idris Al-Makura, opposed the proposal, citing potential anxiety and confusion among pilgrims. He emphasized the preference for receiving BTA in Nigeria before departure to ensure clarity and confidence, especially given fluctuating exchange rates. A follow-up meeting between Taj Bank and the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards is scheduled to explore alternative arrangements that ensure pilgrims receive their BTA in Nigeria before their departure. The BTA issue remains a critical aspect of Hajj planning, directly impacting the welfare and confidence of Nigerian pilgrims. NAHCON is expected to make a final decision in collaboration with banks and stakeholders in the coming days.