31/01/2025
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria Worried Over Low Turnout for Hajj 2025 Payment Registration.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed concern over the low turnout for Hajj 2025 payment registration,Officials have attributed the slow response to the high cost of hajj fares and the short payment window.
This year, pilgrims traveling through state welfare boards are required to pay between N8.3 million and N8.7 million, while those opting for private tour operators face even higher costs. The early payment deadline follows Saudi Arabia’s new policy, which mandates that all participating countries finalize agreements at least four months before the hajj to improve logistics planning.
Last year, the payment deadline was extended due to low turnout, but it remains uncertain whether a similar extension will be granted this time.
In Lagos, only 500 pilgrims had completed their registration as of January 30, representing less than half of the 2,000 allocated slots. Gombe, with an allocation of 1,480 seats, had only 500 registered pilgrims. Meanwhile, in Kwara, over 1,000 pilgrims had paid out of the 4,365 available slots. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board reported that just 700 intending pilgrims had completed their payments.
Officials have cited the high cost of the pilgrimage as a major challenge, noting that many intending pilgrims are struggling to meet the financial requirements due to the current economic situation in the country.
