We haven’t authorized State Pilgrims’ Board to announce 2019 Hajj fare, says NAHCON

A call has gone to the Nigeria’s intending pilgrims for 2019 Hajj exercise to note that it has not authorized any state’s Pilgrims’ Board to announce Hajj fare for the year.

This call was made in statement issued by Head, Public Affairs Division of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Thursday.

According Usara, the indices that determine final fare for Hajj are yet to be determined by the Commission, state pilgrims’ bureaus and other stakeholders.

She however confirmed that registration of pilgrims in the country had commenced since November 2018 requiring a tentative deposit of N1.5 million in bank draft with any of the certified state Muslim pilgrims’ boards, agencies or commissions.

Explaining she said, the deposit can be done in full or installment with a copy of the bank draft presented to the respective state boards.

NAHCON, the statement continued, then warned intending pilgrims against paying cash to any agent or board member as payment is strictly through the banks.

The NAHCON’s statement in full:

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wishes to draw attention of Nigeria’s 2019 Muslim intending pilgrims in particular and the general public that NAHCON has not authorised any state Muslim pilgrims’ board to announce Hajj fare for 2019. The indices that determine final fare for Hajj are yet to be determined by the Commission, state pilgrims’ bureaus and other stakeholders.

“However, registration of pilgrims in Nigeria had commenced in November of 2018.The registration requires a tentative deposit of N1.5m (one million, five hundred thousand Naira), in bank draft, with any of the certified state Muslim pilgrims’ boards, agencies or commissions. This deposit can be done fully or by instalments and a copy of the draft should be presented to the respective state board. Intending pilgrims are warned not to pay cash to any agent or board member as payment is strictly through the banks.

“Meanwhile, NAHCON has released an updated list of approved 2019 licenced Tour Operators with the corresponding number of slots allocated to each. This followed a 2-day hearing and verification of claims by the NAHCON committee set up forConsideration of Appeals by Appellant Companies for 2019 Hajj. A total of 115 out of 147 companies that applied for the licence have so far been approved to participate in the year’s Umrah and Hajj exercises. The applications were submitted online.”