Hajj: NAHCON closes pilgrims’ registration, holds inaugural flight in Imo today

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has closed the registration of pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj on May 2 to enable it to concentrate on the airlift operation. The commission said any Hajj fare deposit received after May 2 would be duly refunded. Hajiya Fatima Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publication Division, […]

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has closed the registration of pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj on May 2 to enable it to concentrate on the airlift operation.

The commission said any Hajj fare deposit received after May 2 would be duly refunded.

Hajiya Fatima Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publication Division, NAHCON, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Usara, an extension was earlier made possible through the intervention of NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, despite the closure of the contract on March 25.

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“Any Hajj fare deposit received after May 2 will be duly refunded. Meanwhile, the movement to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj commences from May 9,” she said.

She said the inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj was scheduled to take off from Owerri, with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo as host.

The NAHCON spokeswoman said 315 pilgrims from Imo, Abia and Bayelsa were scheduled to board an Air Peace airline for the trip.

She said that registration for the 2025 Hajj ended with a record of 40,671 pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Muslim Council has commended NAHCON for its historic decision to designate Owerri as the departure point for the 2025 Hajj flight.

Secretary-General of the council, Alhaji Kamal’deen Akintunde, in a statement, said the development marked the first time in recent memory that an inaugural flight was departing from a state with a relatively smaller Muslim population.

This, according to him, is a laudable step toward promoting interfaith understanding, national unity and inclusivity.

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has charged intending pilgrims to the Holy Land to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria as a whole.

He gave the charge on Wednesday during a farewell ceremony for the Oyo State delegation to the 2025 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, held at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan.

The governor implored the pilgrims to follow laid down rules and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the image of the state and that of their respective families. (NAN)