The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the inaugural flight for the 2025 Hajj will take place on 9 May, as preparations for the pilgrimage enter their final phase.
Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, Chairman of NAHCON, made the disclosure on Wednesday at the National Hajj Stakeholders Summit in Abuja. The summit was themed “Sustainable Hajj Financing: Developing a Resilient Model for Nigerian Pilgrims and Operators.”
The event was organised by NAHCON and the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN), in partnership with Jaiz Bank.
“The Federal Government has approved four airlines to airlift over 40,000 pilgrims, excluding more than 14,000 others who will be travelling with private tour operators,” Saleh said.
He affirmed the commission’s readiness to ensure smooth operations throughout the pilgrimage season and called for unity among stakeholders in delivering effective services to pilgrims.
“We are fully prepared to facilitate the Hajj operations this year. With the grace of Allah, we anticipate a seamless start with the inaugural flight scheduled for 9 May,” he said.
Saleh expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima for their support, highlighting the provision of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) in cash as a key intervention that will ease the financial burden on pilgrims and operators.
He added that the summit was an opportunity for both public and private sector stakeholders to address crucial matters surrounding the long-term sustainability of Hajj operations in Nigeria.
“I believe this gathering will yield practical administrative and financial frameworks that will enhance Hajj financing in Nigeria,” he said.
Representing the Vice-President at the summit, Mr Bashir Maidugu said the Tinubu administration remains committed to improving and sustaining Hajj operations in the country.
“Recognising the spiritual value of Hajj to millions of Nigerians, this administration has consistently supported pilgrims through timely forex allocations and diplomatic engagements with Saudi authorities,” he said.
He also pointed to recent federal interventions aimed at cushioning the rising costs of Hajj, noting that President Tinubu personally approved critical relief measures to ensure Hajj remains accessible to Nigerian Muslims.
The vice-president highlighted ongoing reforms to strengthen NAHCON and its partners, creating a more robust and self-sustaining Hajj ecosystem.
He stressed the importance of adopting sustainable financing models in light of rising costs and currency fluctuations, referencing successful practices from Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Malaysia’s Tabung Haji, established over six decades ago, has proven to be a model for Hajj fund management. It provides Sharia-compliant savings and investment services for Muslims intending to perform Hajj,” he said.
He noted that Indonesia’s Hajj fund management authority, established in 2017, had managed to yield returns of up to 11 billion dollars, enabling significant subsidies for its pilgrims.
“These models show how strategic fund management can support financial stability and improve services for pilgrims,” he stated.
He said it was in line with such international best practices that NAHCON introduced the Hajj Savings Scheme in 2020, offering Nigerian Muslims a structured, Sharia-compliant savings plan for pilgrimage.
(NAN)