• Urges State Governments To Reduce Fares

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has picked 110 private tour operators’ companies for the 2024 Hajj.

The development resulted from the thorough screening of the respective companies after meeting the requirements for next year’s Hajj.

Part of the documents required for eligibility include certificate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) International Air Transport Association (IATA) certificate, IATA accredited staff and principal officers with no record of criminal conviction, presentation of evidence of owning N30m minimum share capital, possession of standard corporate office, evidence of having operated eight years of Umrah successfully or two years of Hajj operations and a N25m refundable security deposit.

“A total of 155 companies applied. Out of this number, 58 companies were initially successful, while 97 companies were disqualified but given room for appeal. 80 companies appealed, of which 52 companies met the criteria for qualification, making a total of 110 private operator companies that resultantly qualified.”

Meanwhile, the acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, has urged Executive Secretaries/Chairmen (ES/C) of States’ Pilgrims’ Welfare Agencies, Boards and Commissions (SPWBs) to explore possible ways of reducing the 2024 Hajj fare to enable interested pilgrims to enrol.

Arabi said this when he hosted SPWBs (ES/C) and the Armed Forces as part of preparatory plans towards successful 2024 Hajj Operation.

He requested the ES/C to remit the deposits they have received so far into the NAHCON Central Bank account because the figures would determine next line of action.

Arabi encouraged them to intensify enlightenment in their environs reminding intending pilgrims to hasten deposits before it is too late.

He commended them for their resilience and unison in carrying out the campaigns so far.

The agency said that it is still holding further discussions with Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah over the ministry’s earlier policy to prune down number of tour operators that will participate in the 2024 Hajj from Nigeria and other parts of the world.

Arabi continued: “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.”

He was optimistic that the agency’s public will ultimately appreciate the outcome of its plans to reduce the 2024 Hajj fare.

The chairman called for understanding around the challenges being experienced by the SPWBs in remitting the deposits, reiterating that NAHCON will gladly intervene between the ES/Cs and their respective principals where there are difficulties if they invite the commission to do so.

On the Hajj Savings Scheme, the chairman stated that it is the future that will guarantee planning in synchrony with Saudi Hajj policies. He, therefore, urged all states to embrace it saying, “We should indeed appreciate the value of the Hajj Savings Scheme, accept and adopt it, despite some reservations.”

The meeting ended with strong optimism that as soon as the remittances are made with clear statistics of registered pilgrims known, which would lead to Hajj fare computation that would equally lead to announcement of the final hajj fare.