The Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON has announced that the issuance of Visa for next year’s 2024 hajj will stop forty-five days to Arafat. (the core hajj rites period)
The Chairman of the commission Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan stated this at a review meeting for the first time since the conclusion of the 2023 Hajj with the Chairmen of states, the pilgrim welfare board, Agencies and tour operators in Abuja the nation’s capital.
Alhaji Hassan said this is by the new Saudi Arabia policy in other to have the exact records of the pilgrim who will be performing Hajj for the year.
“I must also remind you that the calendar is already out as far as the Saudi government is concerned and we are going to give it to you to serve as a constant reminder, that by the 29th of April next year Visa issuance will close and ten days after, pilgrims will begin to arrive into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, what am telling you is unlike previous years that even when it is two days to the closure of the flight somebody can still get a visa, Saudi Arabia said no more that forever, it means you have between forty to fifty days to Arafat when you cannot issue Visa anymore. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wants to know at least 40-50 days before Arafah those who are coming from other countries.”
The Chairman also disclosed that the cost of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage will be determined by stability or fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
He encouraged prospective pilgrims to begin depositing a minimum of four point five million naira while awaiting the official announcement of the final fee.
Alhaji Zikrullah emphasised that the potential for fluctuation in Hajj fares hinges on the unpredictable nature of foreign exchange rates. He noted that if the foreign exchange rate were to rise, the Hajj fare would also increase, and conversely, it could decrease if the exchange rate stabilizes or decreases.
“This year Hajj is going to be expensive and I must tell you why, the age of concessionary rate as we speak now the forex is at 714 naira to a U.S dollar so if you multiply that with the Dollars of Hajj last year you can imagine how many more millions you will need to add to the cost of Hajj, the government has been clear on it, there is going to be only one rate as far as Forex is concerned. Is 714 the bar? I don’t know! I pray it comes down I don’t know! if it comes down we will have to go and swim with it, if it goes up then we also have no choice. That is to tell you to prepare ahead .”
Other issues reviewed at the meeting was the issue of poor feeding, tent scarcity and poor sanitary condition at the Musha’ir during the 2023 hajj and what the commission has done to ensure that pilgrims are compensated by the service providers
“We are also aware of the fact, that there were challenges in Muna, primarily because of two things, the spaces given to both, state and tour operators were inadequate.
“Also is the fact that there was a shortage of food, in Muna, and what we did is set up a committee, of state, tour operators and NAHCON, to review, this inadequacy, and based on the record available before we left the kingdom we have already written seeking for refund and redress as well as an apology from the authorities who provided the services in Muna and Arafa and we have also addressed a similar letter to the leadership of the ministry of hajj to compel this authority for the necessary refund.”
