NAHCON BLAMES SAUDI POLICY CHANGES FOR DELAYED PAYMENTS IN 2025 HAJJ OPERATIONS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, has attributed the delays in payments for services during the 2025 Hajj exercise to recent policy changes introduced by Saudi Arabian authorities.
Usman, represented by the Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, made this known on Thursday at the post-Hajj lecture and recognition event organised by the Independent Hajj Reporters in Abuja. The event, themed “In the Interest of the Pilgrims,” honoured key stakeholders who contributed to this year’s pilgrimage.
According to Usman, Saudi Arabia’s new requirement that all payments be made before Umrah unlike previous years when payments were allowed afterward disrupted Nigeria’s usual schedule and caused a knock-on effect on service delivery.
“Unlike previous Hajj when payments were made after Umrah in the month of Ramadan, now all payments must be made even before leaving for the Umrah. That means countries must first decide on the number of pilgrims before Hajj,” he explained.
An earlier reports has it that the 2025 Hajj concluded with the final return flight on July 2, while NAHCON has already announced a tentative deposit fare of ₦8.5 million for the 2026 Hajj, warning that there will be no extension for registration deadlines.
Stakeholders at the Abuja forum urged the Nigerian government to introduce a National Hajj Policy, noting that such a framework would help prevent late payments and financial disruptions in future exercises.
A former Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and ex-Technical Adviser to NAHCON, Dr. Shehu Muhammed, highlighted the difficulties faced by intending pilgrims, many of whom are farmers who can only make payments after harvest season.
He stressed the need for stronger legal and financial instruments to enable states and NAHCON to access advance funds, pointing out that the lack of guarantees discourages banks and financial institutions from providing loans ahead of critical deadlines.
Muhammed further called for a “strong policy framework under a savings scheme” to ensure pilgrims’ deposits can be managed sustainably while enabling service providers to receive timely payments.
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