2025 Hajj May Face Operational Hitches

With just fewer than 15 days to the commencement of the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj exercise, uncertainties loom over the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s operational readiness. Private tour operators have raised concerns over the much-talked-about ‘Tent A’ accommodations for Nigerian VIP pilgrims and other issues.

The tour operators alleged that NAHCON’s handling of VIP accommodations and misguided attempts to monopolise the Umrah service sector through initiatives like the Giil TMS project undermine the entire private sector ecosystem built around Hajj and Umrah services in Nigeria. The travel agencies assert that NAHCON’s lack of communication leaves them—and by extension, the pilgrims— in the dark about vital arrangements.

In a joint statement, the tour operators, led by Usman A. Ambursa of Travel Express Ltd, Haruna Isma’il of An-Noor Air Services and Tours Ltd, and Ikramah Muhammad of Positive Trends Travel and Tours Ltd, expressed their disappointment with the commission’s deviation from its original mandate and called on the government to intervene and ensure that NAHCON remains accountable to the citizens it serves.

The operators expressed their commitment to advocating for a Hajj experience that respects pilgrims’ dignity and is free from exploitation and inflated costs. They highlighted the exorbitant fees charged by NAHCON, including high application and licensing fees that far overshadow what is typical for short-term permits.

“We envision a fairly priced Hajj that provides the best service, commensurate with what pilgrims pay,” said Isma’il, reinforcing their commitment to advocate for necessary reforms that will prioritise the dignity and rights of Nigerian pilgrims.

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“We want a Hajj that focuses solely on serving the pilgrims. In 2022, tour companies collectively paid a staggering N2 billion to NAHCON, with fees such as N300,000 for applications and N1 million for licenses that last only three months. The recent hikes in service fees, including a dollar service charge per pilgrim, were described as arbitrary and unjustified,” the statement added.

NAHCON Chairman Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman previously announced that the commission had secured 1,000 Tent A bed spaces and hopes for further allocation under the Tent A Plus category. He made this known during a meeting with private tour operators in Makkah, where he urged them to express interest and collaborate for a smooth operation.

Also, while speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Vice President at the State House on Tuesday, the Commissioner in charge of Operations, Inspectorate & Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi, said arrangements have been made in Mecca, Medina and other cities for a hitch-free 2025 exercise.

He said, “We have all our accommodation intact in Mecca, Medina, and other locations. They are ready to take our pilgrims. We have secured enough bed spaces and paid for adequate feeding for our pilgrims.

However, the tour operators’ revelation has raised questions about NAHCON’s earlier claims and whether any Tent A slots remain accessible to private tour operators. The conflicting accounts between NAHCON, private tour operators, and Saudi-based service providers have confused and anxious operators and intending pilgrims.