In addition, it should be noted that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially established a minimum initial deposit of N4.5 million. Consequently, prospective pilgrims are strongly encouraged to promptly make the necessary payment through their respective state boards before to the specified date.
According to a statement made by Fatima Sanda Usara, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the deadline has become crucial in order to adhere to the specified timeframe and meet the conditions set by the Saudi authorities.
The original minimal deposit was determined through a collaborative effort between NAHCON and the Forum of State Executive Secretaries of Pilgrims' Welfare Boards, Agencies, and Commissions, taking into account the fluctuating exchange rate and other significant variables.
The speaker highlighted that it was the responsibility of NAHCON to collect the data of eligible pilgrims in order to complete the necessary preparations for accommodations and other services at the Holy Land, which are scheduled for the first week of November. According to NAHCON, having knowledge on the approximate number of eligible pilgrims provides reliable indicators to inform the preparatory meetings.
Following the conclusion of the post Hajj conference in September, it was unanimously agreed upon by all the stakeholders present that it is imperative to communicate to the general public that the minimum deposit required for prospective pilgrims to be officially registered for the 2024 Hajj is set at N4.5 million.
The rationale behind implementing this minimum deposit requirement can be attributed to three key factors. In order to facilitate the estimation of the number of eligible pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj, it is imperative for both the states and the Commission to complete preparatory discussions with service providers by November 4, as stipulated by Saudi Arabia. The temporal proximity of this Saudi timeframe is estimated to be approximately three weeks in the future.
Secondly, there was unanimous agreement that the additional cash needed to reach the final fare announcement would be little, given the initial deposit, in comparison to the larger quantity that would be necessary if the minimum deposit were set at a lower number.
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), establishing a lower initial deposit amount would pose greater difficulties for a larger number of individuals to make further payments if the final balance is significantly higher. This could result in miscalculations, which would hinder the effectiveness of timely and correct planning.
Therefore, in addition to this, the Commission would possess a more accurate estimate to negotiate the expenses related to accommodation, airline tickets, meals, and other costs, taking into account the number of individuals who managed to fulfill the N4.5 million barrier by the time of the preliminary meetings.
The individual further stated that the ultimate fare or remaining amount will be calculated and determined based on the prevailing exchange rate between the US dollar and the Nigerian naira. It was emphasized that NAHCON cannot be held accountable for any potential failures arising from delayed deposits.
The Commission would like to emphasize to individuals interested in participating in the 2024 Hajj the importance of adhering to the deadline for remitting cash into the designated Saudi Arabian account. This deadline is crucial for the timely processing of Visas.
Usara noted that the Commission is anticipated to finalize the payment for housing and holy sites contracts by February 2024, so facilitating the initiation of Visa issuing from March 3rd to April 29th, 2024.
