There appears to be cheering information for Nigerians planning to take part on this 12 months’s Hajj because the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Tuesday introduced an extension of the deadline for the cost of the minimal deposit of N4.5 million mounted by the Hajj physique for intending pilgrims.
The extension, from the early scheduled December 31, 2023, to January 31, in accordance with the fee, was to supply a further alternative for people to take part on this sacred pilgrimage.
Saying the extension in a press launch signed by NAHCON Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, made out there to Tribune On-line, the Hajj physique acknowledged that it was in response to considerations raised by clerics, governors, state pilgrims welfare boards/companies/commissions and different stakeholders.
Usara acknowledged that the overwhelming request for extension from varied spiritual communities underscored the importance of guaranteeing accessibility to a broader spectrum of Muslim trustworthy desperate to take part on this 12 months’s Hajj train.
In response to Usara, “In response to the heartfelt considerations raised by spiritual clerics, state pilgrims’ welfare boards/companies/commissions, state governors and different stakeholders relating to closure of 2024 Hajj registration, the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON) is happy to announce Federal Authorities’s approval for an extension of the deadline.
“The brand new date is about for January 31, 2024, offering a further alternative for people to take part on this sacred pilgrimage.
“The overwhelming request for extension from varied spiritual communities underscores the importance of guaranteeing accessibility to a broader spectrum of the trustworthy desperate to embark on the religious journey of Hajj.”
She expressed NAHCON’s confidence that earlier than the January 31 deadline, the fee would have decided the price of this 12 months’s Hajj with the help of different companies.
In response to Usara, the brand new deadline supplied a possibility for brand new registrants to register for the religious train, whereas these but to stability their cost would give you the chance to take action.
She knowledgeable that going by the Saudi Arabia authorities’ pointers for the 2024 Hajj, February 25 was slated as finish date for signing all contracts relating to this 12 months’s train.
This, she additional acknowledged, meant that funds into all Worldwide Financial institution Account Quantity (IBAN) accounts should shut by that date.
“Consequently, NAHCON is assured that earlier than expiration of the brand new deadline, with the help of its sister companies, the Fee would have decided the whole price of 2024 Hajj.
“The extension subsequently supplies a window for brand new registrants to take action and by the top of January, those that have to stability up cost would give you the chance to take action as properly.
“NAHCON seizes this opportunity to remind intending pilgrims and different stakeholders that the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has slated twenty fifth February as finish date for signing all contracts, signaling the top of funds into IBAN accounts.
“With this extension, NAHCON has barely a month to finalize cost of all Hajj deposits into its IBAN account for the 2024 Hajj.
“This extension, though overstretches NAHCON’s preparatory timeline, displays the Fee’s Chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi’s dedication to accommodating the considerations of stakeholders,” Usara acknowledged.
She added that Arabi expressed gratitude to spiritual leaders, state boards, and governors for his or her advocacy on behalf of the pilgrims.
“Malam Arabi described this collaborative effort as a testomony to the shared dedication to facilitating a significant and inclusive Hajj expertise for all.
“He prayed all Hajj handlers would make the most of this chance properly for achievement of 2024 Hajj operations.”
Tribune On-line Report reviews that there had been rising considerations that Nigeria won’t have the ability to fill its quota of 95,000 slots allotted to it by the Saudi Arabian authorities for this 12 months’s Hajj.
The considerations emanated from the N4.5 million minimal deposit NAHCON requested intending pilgrims to pay in addition to the deadline of December 31, 2023, earlier set for the remittance of deposits by state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards/companies/commissions.
In contrast to earlier preparations, Saudi authorities had issued new pointers referring to the 2024 Hajj with all Hajj-participating nations anticipated to conclude their lodging and Masha’ir contracts by February 25.
Aside from this, there’s a clear departure from what was obtained as much as final 12 months’s Hajj as issuance of visas for intending pilgrims will start on March 1, 2024, and shut on April 29, lower than two months earlier than Arafat Day, whereas first set of pilgrims is anticipated to arrival the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Could 9.