Intending Pilgrims Has 3 Weeks To Pay N4.5m Deposit – NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has urged intending pilgrims to pay the N4.5 million deposit before November 4, saying the commission has three weeks to negotiate with service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Assistant Director, Public Affairs of NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara in a statement on Thursday said the Kingdom had set November 4, 2023, for the conclusion of preparatory meetings with the service providers, noting that by then, the commission should have an estimate of intending pilgrims to enable it negotiate with prices for services to be rendered.

Sanda said early preparation for the 2024 hajj led the commission and the Forum of State Executive Secretaries of Pilgrims’ Welfare to announce N4.5m as deposit for the hajj fare.

The amount was agreed
upon to enable pilgrims to easily pay the remaining amount when the final fare is announced.

She said, “The wisdom behind this minimum deposit revolved around three reasons. First, is for the states and the commission to estimate how many pilgrims would be eligible to be counted as intending pilgrims at least by 4th November 2023, a time set by Saudi Arabia for the commission to conclude preparatory meetings with service providers. Knowing the estimated number of eligible pilgrims is one of the indices that would guide the preparatory meetings. This Saudi timeline is roughly three weeks from now.

“Setting a lower deposit aggregate would be more challenging for a larger number of persons to top up should the end sum be on the high side, thereby leading to miscalculations. This would be counterproductive to timely and accurate planning.”