National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has given the boards, commissions, agencies and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare managers till Friday to remit all 2023 hajj fare.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, gave the ultimatum yesterday during a decisive and marathon meeting with chief executives of state pilgrims’ welfare boards/agencies/commissions at the Hajj House, Abuja.
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According to a statement issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, assistant director, public affairs, NAHCON, the meeting was to address critical issues hinging on remittances of Hajj fare by pilgrims in order to finalise on the number of eligible enrollees for the 2023 Hajj from Nigeria. Determination of the number would dictate figures with which to sign agreements with airlines.
Hassan, in the statement said 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 percent down payment to the air carriers is expected upon signing of agreement while another 35 percent would follow after deployment of aircraft for the airlift by the carriers.
NAHCON boss 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.
Recall that the deadline for Hajj fare remittance had been extended on several occasions since January 2023.
Meanwhile, the commissioner planning, research, statistics and library studies, Prince Sheikh Suleman Momoh, has revealed that screening of the first batch of medical personnel for the 2023 Hajj holds today with orientation and other ceremonies after confirmation of successful candidates.