NAHCON proposes N8.5m deposit for 2026 Hajj

By

 

By Hadiza  Abdulrahman 

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has proposed N8.5 million as the provisional deposit for the 2026 Hajj, pending final negotiations with service providers.

The announcement was made during a strategic post-Hajj meeting held on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, with Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards in attendance.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, also revealed that Nigeria has retained its 95,000-slot allocation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while states will maintain the same slot distribution as in 2025.

In a statement by Fatima Sanda, NAHCON’s Head of Public Affairs, the Chairman of the Commission emphasised the importance of early planning, adding that Nigeria is looking to secure flight slots early by possibly rolling over contracts with the four airlines used during the last pilgrimage.


According to the statement, the Chairman thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting Nigerian pilgrims, particularly through directives to allow Hajj carriers to accept Naira payments and the suspension of a Central Bank policy requiring credit card-only access to Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).

He said these measures protected pilgrims from foreign exchange challenges and digital exclusion.

Discussions at the meeting also focused on the 2026 Hajj calendar, operational hurdles, and recommendations for improvements. Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, led talks on logistics, while the Planning and Research Commissioner, Prof. Abubakar Yagawal, outlined the proposed timeline for preparations.

Representing the Forum of States Executive Secretaries, Alhaji Idris Almakura of Nasarawa State urged stronger collaboration between NAHCON and the states.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from participants to provide further input after state-level consultations. Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Mustapha Ali appreciated the participants and adjourned the meeting.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Experts Advocate Increased Women Leadership in Biodiversity

By
Image
  Hadiza Abdulrahman  Experts have advocated increased inclusion of women’s leadership in biodiversity to strengthen sustainable and effective conservation strategies. This was the focus of a roundtable on Women and Biodiversity Leadership, held under the Scientific Diplomacy Programme organized by the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Cooperation Office in Nigeria, with support from the European Union. The roundtable on women’s leadership in biodiversity highlighted the crucial role of women in biodiversity conservation and discussed strategies to close the gender gap in biodiversity science. It also explored innovative approaches to integrating gender considerations into biodiversity policies.  They called on stakeholders to address gender inequalities and ensure women's full participation in the sector, while also urging the government to provide adequate funding, inclusive policy development processes, strengthening network for knowledge sharing, enhance access t...
Read more

Hadis Foundation, EU, and IDEA Equip Radio Journalists with Skills for SGBV Reporting

By
Image
By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The Hadis Foundation, with support from the European Union in Nigeria and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), has equipped radio broadcast journalists with innovative practices and guidelines for reporting on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The training themed “Pathways to Inclusive Justice (P2iJ) Media Convening”, is part of preparations for the upcoming 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, organized under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, which seeks to leverage media influence to advocate for stronger action against SGBV. The Chief Operating Officer of the Hadis Foundation, Rashida Mahmood, highlighted that the training was designed to prepare journalists for their critical role in society, equipping them with the skills needed to effectively report on SGBV during the 16 Days of Activism, starting on November 25. Dr. Amina Salihu, Chair Board of Trustees of Hadis Fou...
Read more

Water Scarcity Threatens Maternal Health in FCT Communities

By
Image
  A woman washing at a stream in Wassa IDP Camp in the FCT. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman Nigeria faces significant challenges in guaranteeing the human right to water for its population. A 2022 World Bank report reveals that  60 million  Nigerians lacked access to basic drinking water, and in 2021, over 100 million lacked basic sanitation. This deficiency leads to waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, causing millions of deaths annually, especially among children under five.  women and girls are disproportionately affected , spending hours collecting water and facing risks, leaving them little or no time for education, work, or other activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal health is also severely impacted, with expectant and new mothers facing increased risks without clean water. In Takushara, Abuja, young girls collecting water from a canal. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman TAKUSHARA In Abuja, the nation’s capital, some commun...
Read more