THE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has declared that the minimum deposit for the 2024 hajj remains N4.5 million, saying the balance will be determined by the cost of the dollar at the time of final hajj fare computation.
The commission said this declaration became necessary to avoid a situation where intending pilgrims would pay a lower amount of deposit and such persons would fail to be counted among eligible applicants for the next hajj season.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, if NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara’, in which the commission explained how the decision to fix N4.5 million as the minimum hajj fare deposit was arrived at.
NAHCON explained that its agreement with the Forum of State Executive Secretaries of Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions to, at a post-2023 hajj meeting on September 5, 2023, fix the amount was necessitated by the cost of dollar which, it said, would determine the final cost of the coming hajj.
The commission stated that all hajj stakeholders departed the meeting with the same resolution to inform the public that the minimum deposit for an intending pilgrim to be registered for the 2024 hajj is N4.5 million.
The NAHCON’s statement reads in part: “The wisdom behind this minimum deposit revolved around three reasons. First is for the states and the commission to estimate how many pilgrims would be eligible to be counted as intending pilgrims at least by 4th November, 2023, a time set by Saudi Arabia for the commission to conclude preparatory meetings with service providers.
“Knowing the estimated number of eligible pilgrims is one of the indices that would guide the preparatory meetings. This Saudi timeline is roughly three weeks from now.
“Secondly, it was agreed in unison that with that amount, the top-up residual by the time the final fare will be announced would be minimal, compared to what may be required to balance up if the minimum deposit were to be set in a lesser sum.
“Besides, setting a lower deposit aggregate would be more challenging for a larger number of persons to top up should the end sum be on the high side, thereby leading to miscalculations. This would be counterproductive to timely and accurate planning.
“Hence, and thirdly, too, the commission would have a more realistic figure to bargain for cost of accommodation, airline fares, feeding and others, knowing the number of persons that were able to reach the N4.5 million threshold by the time of preparatory meetings.
“The said meeting ended with members agreeing unanimously with this plan. Indeed, the hajj industry in Nigeria is recognised under only one leadership which is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, and this institution reiterates that the minimum deposit for the 2024 hajj remains N4.5 million. The balance will be determined by the cost of the dollar at the time of final hajj fare computation.
“The public, especially intending pilgrims, is warned not to hold the commission responsible if, after paying a lower amount of deposit, such intending pilgrims fail to be counted among eligible applicants for the 2024 hajj season.
“The commission also wishes to remind those interested in participating in the 2024 hajj of the time constraint with regard to final date of funds remittance into the coffers of Saudi Arabian account for the processing of visas.
“The commission is expected to complete payment for accommodation and holy sites contracts by February 2024 to enable commencement of visa issuance by 3rd March up to 29th April, 2024.
“In view of this challenge, intending pilgrims are enjoined to make their deposits in time to enable their respective boards to complete registration and remittance of hajj fare by 5th January, 2024.”
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