Starting from the 2025 Hajj, the Saudi Companies of Pilgrims’ Establishments, known as Mu’assasa, will assume responsibility for the feeding and accommodation of pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah, similar to the current practices in Masha’ir (Muna, Arafah and Muzdalifah).

This new initiative was conveyed to the various state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards at a meeting held between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the executive secretaries of the state boards in Abuja during the week as part of preparations for next year’s Hajj operations.

According to NAHCON Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, the crucial meeting was conveyed with a view to making significant decisions in anticipation of next year’s Hajj.

NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, provided updates on recent developments from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, including the announcement of the new initiative in which the Mu’assasa taking responsibility for pilgrims’ feeding and accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.

“This policy, which impacts all countries participating in Hajj, will be implemented starting with the 2025 pilgrimage. It is noteworthy that MoHU (Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah) had previously proposed taking over feeding in Masha’ir in 2022, which was subsequently put into action that year,” Usara stated.

She stated further that Prince Elegushi reiterated NAHCON’s commitment to align with Saudi Arabia’s Hajj calendar and emphasized the need for cooperation among all stakeholders.

While praising the state executive secretaries for their proactive approach in announcing the minimum Hajj deposits for next year, Elegunshi encouraged them to maintain this momentum and urged them to collect their letters regarding slot allocations and the 2025 Hajj license.

The NAHCON commissioner also advised them to formally request adjustments in their slot allocations as necessary.

Usara further stated that Elegunshi provided the state pilgrims boards’ bosses an update on the pending refunds from the 2024 Hajj, which he said NAHCON was still awaiting resolution from the Saudi authorities.

Responding, the Chairman, Forum of States Executive Secretary Malam Idris Almakura, who doubles as the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Pilgrims’ Board, commended NAHCON for its
efforts and urged the Commission to sustain the tempo.

Malam Almakura disclosed that the executive secretaries had an emergency meeting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board the previous night ahead of the meeting with NAHCON.

Usara informed that the communiqué issued at the end of the executove secretaries’ meeting was read at the meeting with NAHCON by the Director, FCT MPWB, Malam Abubakar Evuti.

In the communiqué, the Forum of States Executive Secretary called on NAHCON to address certain issues of concern to the members, including the Hajj Savings Scheme, policy regarding National Medical Team, matters of pilgrims’ refunds, among others.

Meanwhile, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazaq, who is currently the Acting Chairman, has assured the executive secretaries that the Commission will address their grievances after constituting a committee comprising members from both sides.