‘Pilgrims may miss 2025 hajj’ — state boards warn NAHCON over ‘service provider contract cancellation’

The Forum of Chief Executive Officers of state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards has raised concerns that Nigerian intending pilgrims may miss the 2025 Hajj due to the alleged cancellation of the Masha’ir service contract by Abdullahi Usman, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Abubakar Salihu, the forum’s secretary and executive execretary of the Adamawa state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, told journalists in Abuja on Sunday that this decision could prevent Nigerian pilgrims from securing visas, ultimately barring them from the pilgrimage.

The forum, which includes all 36 state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the federal capital territory (FCT), said the cancellation could disrupt visa processing through the Saudi e-tract platform.

Salihu claimed that the NAHCON chairman “unilaterally” cancelled the contract signed with Saudi service provider Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah through an electronic portal, despite previous agreements.

“It has become necessary to inform the public that if Nigerian intending pilgrims miss out on the 2025 Hajj, they should hold the NAHCON chairman responsible,” Salihu said.

‘VISA ACCESS AT RISK’

Salihu explained that after a meeting with NAHCON executives in January, Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah was selected as the service provider for state quota pilgrims in Muna, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, while Rawaf Mina was chosen for VIP pilgrims.

He said NAHCON had signed the agreement, and Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah had updated the contract on Saudi hajj agency platforms, including NUSUK and e-tract.

“With the cancellation, our pilgrims cannot process their visas. Even if NAHCON engages another service provider, they won’t have access to the Saudi visa platform,” Salihu stated.

The forum questioned why NAHCON allowed private tour operators, who manage less than 20 percent of Nigerian pilgrims, to choose their service providers while state boards—responsible for over 80 percent of the 95,000 pilgrims—were denied the same privilege.

Salihu further warned that Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah could seek arbitration over the contract breach, potentially complicating Nigeria’s participation in the Hajj.

He also stated that state boards had rejected Ithraa Al Khair, a service provider accused of shortchanging Nigerian pilgrims in 2022, 2023, and 2024, despite alleged attempts to impose it on them.

Salihu noted that Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah, which had previously handled Nigerian pilgrims between 2015 and 2019, was selected after a review process that led to a $200 reduction in Hajj fares per pilgrim.

The forum added that NAHCON was expected to make payments once funds were uploaded to its portal.

Sources told TheCable that petitions have been sent to investigative agencies, urging Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, to intervene.

Despite these concerns, sources indicated that the NAHCON chairman is already in Saudi Arabia to appoint a new service provider, one whiich the forum claims lacks experience with African pilgrims.

CSO WARNS NAHCON, STATE BOARDS AGAINST DISRUPTIONS

Meanwhile, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation, has cautioned against disruptions that could derail the pilgrimage.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed, on Sunday, IHR stated that the disagreement between NAHCON and the state boards poses a major risk to intending pilgrims.

IHR warned that delays in payments could hinder the selected service provider’s ability to prepare adequately, adding that Nigeria risks losing credibility with Saudi authorities if the issue is not addressed properly.

“We are disturbed that recent developments pose a high risk to Nigerian intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj, whose funds are the primary source for the exercise,” the statement reads.

“We, therefore, call on all concerned parties to be cautious and avoid any friction that may lead the Saudi ministry of hajj and umrah to cancel Nigeria’s hajj service contracts, thereby denying our innocent intending pilgrims the opportunity to fulfill their religious obligations.”

IHR further warned that the cancellation of the Hajj service contracts could lead to legal battles in Saudi Arabia unless sanctioned by the Saudi ministry of hajj and umrah.

Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s spokesperson, was not immediately available for comment on the issue.