- Saudi Arabia retains 95,000 Hajj slots for Nigeria in 2025, with 75,000 allocated to the government and 20,000 to the private sector
- NAHCON raises issues Nigerian pilgrims face in 2024, urging Saudi authorities to address challenges for a better 2025 Hajj experience
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has retained the 95,000 slots allocated to Nigeria for the 2025 Hajj, maintaining the quota for the last two years. The announcement was made during the first virtual preparatory meeting for the 2025 Hajj between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and officials from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Of the 95,000 slots, 75,000 will be allocated to various states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the government quota, while the remaining 20,000 slots are reserved for the private sector.
The NAHCON delegation, led by Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management, and Finance (PPMF) Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq, included other key commissioners and senior management staff. The Saudi side was represented by officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Saudi Immigration Service, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
During the meeting, Prince Abdulrazaq commended the Saudi ministry for the successful 2024 Hajj operations and stated that NAHCON had already begun preparations for the 2025 Hajj. He also raised several challenges faced by Nigerian pilgrims in 2024, including a shortage of toilets and issues with meal quality in Mina, transportation problems from Muzdalifa to Mina, and tent allocation issues despite payments for extra space.
Abdulrazaq also highlighted incidents of harassment faced by some pilgrims due to inactive NUSUK identity cards, urging the Saudi authorities to address these issues to ensure better experiences for Nigerian pilgrims in 2025.
In response, Dr. Badr Assulamy, Director General of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chief Consultant in Charge of Offices of the Pilgrims’ Affairs, called for NAHCON’s full support to make the 2025 Hajj a success. He emphasized the need for adherence to deadlines, including early payment of Hajj fares, completion of contracts with Saudi service providers, and timely issuance of licenses to air carriers and other stakeholders.
Assulamy stated that visa issuance would commence on February 19, 2025, and encouraged NAHCON to complete all necessary processes before the deadline. He also advised NAHCON to collaborate with service providers to select optimal locations in Mina if Hajj fares are remitted early.
He further explained that all pilgrims must be vaccinated against yellow fever, COVID-19, and meningitis. Additionally, he stressed that any pre-existing conditions, such as cancer or diabetes, must be indicated during registration.
Another Saudi official, Ms. Rawan Alassaf, highlighted the importance of the Ministry’s awareness platform, which captures pilgrims’ experiences and offers an interactive learning system in Makkah and Madina. She invited NAHCON to assign a communication officer to coordinate with the Saudi Ministry to develop specific content to help Nigerian pilgrims perform their Hajj rites. She also mentioned that enlightenment materials are available in 16 languages for distribution.
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