Hajj 2025: Low turnout as fare payment deadline ends today

DDM News

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is bracing for a potential underutilization of its hajj slots allocated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 pilgrimage due to a significant low turnout in payments.

As the payment deadline of January 31, 2025, lapses, many intending Nigerian pilgrims have failed to make the necessary payments, prompting concerns that this year’s situation may mirror last year’s, where only 51,447 of the 95,000 slots were filled.

The 2025 pilgrimage is allocated the same number of slots—95,000—as in 2024, but the outlook remains grim, Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports.

Reports show that most prospective pilgrims are struggling to meet the steep fare demands, which range between N8.3 million and N8.7 million for those traveling through state welfare boards.

Private tour operators are charging even higher rates, putting the pilgrimage out of reach for many would-be participants.

The early payment deadline for 2025 was mandated by Saudi Arabia’s new policy, which insists that all participating countries finalize their agreements at least four months before the hajj.

This decision aims to better organize logistics and ensure a smoother process for all countries involved.

Unfortunately, despite the early deadline, the high costs of travel and the short payment window have led to a poor turnout, similar to last year when the deadline was extended due to the low number of payments.

The situation is further compounded by the economic challenges many Nigerians face.

The country’s economic crisis has left many potential pilgrims unable to gather the funds needed to embark on the holy journey.

Even though the government and state welfare boards are doing their best to encourage payments, it seems unlikely that the 95,000 slots will be filled by today’s deadline.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Challenges

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board reported a disappointing figure, with only 700 pilgrims completing their payments by the deadline.

FCT was allocated a total of 4,148 seats, with 40% (1,659) reserved for participants in the Jaiz Bank hajj scheme, and the remaining 60% (2,489) designated for general pilgrims.

However, as of January 30, only 700 had made the necessary payments, leaving a wide gap between the allocated and actual numbers.

Despite this, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, the board’s spokesman, stated that many people were rushing to meet the deadline, and the final tally of registered pilgrims will only be confirmed after the deadline has passed.

State-Level Hajj Participation

In Kano State, the situation is somewhat better, though still concerning.

The state was allocated 4,356 seats, and by January 30, about 2,100 pilgrims had completed their payments.

However, the state government has extended its own deadline to February 3, hoping to boost the number of participants before it closes.

Similarly, Sokoto State, which has an allocation of 5,216 seats, is still finalizing its list of registered pilgrims.

The state expects to have its data compiled by February 2, with a larger number of pilgrims expected to make payments before the cutoff.

Kaduna, with over 6,000 seats allocated, is continuing its registration process at 24 centers across the state.

Although the exact number of completed registrations was unavailable as of January 30, officials are optimistic that many more pilgrims will make payments before the new February 5 deadline.

Kwara State, with 4,365 seats, reported that over 1,000 pilgrims had completed their payments.

As in other states, the number of registrations is expected to rise as the final deadline approaches.

Meanwhile, in Gombe, which had 1,480 seats allocated, only 500 pilgrims had made payments by January 30.

The state government is encouraging more people to register before the February 2025 deadline, but the high cost of the pilgrimage remains a major barrier.

Similarly, in Lagos, only 500 pilgrims had completed their registration, and less than 50% of the 2,000 allocated seats had been filled by January 30.

The state is grappling with the same financial constraints affecting other regions, and officials are urging more pilgrims to pay before the final deadline.

The Impact of High Hajj Fares

The high cost of the hajj fares has been a significant challenge for many intending pilgrims.

With fares ranging from N8.3 million to N8.7 million, the price is simply too steep for many Nigerians, particularly in a time of economic hardship.

The fact that the fares have risen sharply over the past few years has made it even harder for families to afford the pilgrimage.

For many Muslims in Nigeria, the hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime journey, but the escalating costs are forcing many to defer or abandon their plans altogether.

To further compound the issue, many Nigerian pilgrims have been seeking alternative ways to finance their pilgrimage, but the economic situation has placed these options out of reach for many.

Private tour operators are charging even higher fees than the state welfare boards, and the added pressure of meeting the early payment deadline has left many unable to participate.

Alhaji Abdulfatah Abdulmojeed, a key figure in the hajj operations, suggested that the Nigerian government should consider adopting a Hajj Savings Scheme, similar to programs in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.

This scheme would allow pilgrims to gradually save for their pilgrimage over the course of several years, making the high costs more manageable.

Abdulmojeed also emphasized that the states must remit the funds collected from pilgrims to NAHCON as soon as possible to avoid delays in preparations for the pilgrimage.

The Role of NAHCON and Its Prospects

At the heart of the situation is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the body responsible for coordinating the hajj pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims.

Despite its efforts to encourage early payment and ensure a smooth pilgrimage, NAHCON faces challenges in filling the allocated slots.

Internal sources suggest that the commission may not extend the payment deadline this year, as it has already entered into agreements with service providers and made arrangements for logistics.

This means that any delays in payments could further complicate preparations for the 2025 hajj.

NAHCON’s commitment to ensuring the early payment of fares is crucial for securing accommodation, flights, and other necessary arrangements for Nigerian pilgrims.

However, it remains unclear how many pilgrims will ultimately pay before the deadline, and if the number will be sufficient to fill the country’s allocation of 95,000 seats.

In conclusion, the 2025 hajj pilgrimage may face significant challenges due to the low turnout of intending pilgrims.

The high costs, short payment window, and current economic difficulties in Nigeria are major barriers preventing many from participating.

As the payment deadline draws to a close, it remains to be seen whether NAHCON can ensure that all available slots are filled and whether the situation will improve in future years.

The prospects of a successful 2025 pilgrimage will largely depend on how quickly the country can address the financial challenges faced by prospective pilgrims.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook