NAHCON asks states to reduce hajj fare for intending pilgrims

Jalal Arabi, acting chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), has asked chairpersons of States’ Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies, Boards and Commissions (SPWBs) to explore possible ways of reducing hajj fare for intending pilgrims.

Arabi spoke during a parley on Thursday at NAHCON headquarters in Abuja.

He requested that states should remit the deposits they have received so far from intending pilgrims into NAHCON’s central bank account, adding that the amount raised will determine the next line of action.

The NAHCON boss encouraged states to keep reminding intending pilgrims to make payments before it is too late.

“There is no time, so you have to remit whatever amount paid to your accounts, for the commission to arrange pre-hajj visit to negotiate the necessary services for our intending pilgrims,” Arabi said.

“Our public will ultimately appreciate the outcome of our plans to reduce the 2024 hajj fare.”

The NAHCON chairman also called on states to embrace the hajj savings scheme, noting that it will guarantee planning in line with Saudi hajj policies.

“We should indeed appreciate the value of the hajj savings scheme, accept and adopt it despite some reservations, so that we can soon inculcate it in our planning as we forge ahead,” he said.

Arabi said once remittances are made with clear statistics of registered pilgrims by states to NAHCON, it would lead to hajj fare computation, which would equally lead to the announcement of the final hajj fare for intending pilgrims.