Secret Reporters No place to hide
Abdussamad Yau
Nigeria risks missing Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Hajj registration deadline amid a deepening crisis linked to delayed payments and a controversial switch in service providers, leaving thousands of pilgrims in limbo. With just two days remaining before the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj Close the Hajj portal, only 15,000 of the 95,000 intending Nigerian pilgrims who paid deposits have been successfully registered, according to sources close to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently issued a stern letter to NAHCON, citing unresolved delays in finalizing service contract payments critical for securing accommodations, transportation, and other logistics for Nigerian pilgrims. The letter emphasized that failure to meet the deadline would result in Nigeria forfeiting its allocated slots, with no possibility of an extension.
Compounding the crisis, NAHCON abruptly terminated its contract with Mashariq Al-Dhahabia, a Saudi-based agency praised for its “excellent services” during previous Hajj seasons, opting instead for an unnamed new provider. The move has drawn sharp criticism from stakeholders, who accuse NAHCON of poor due diligence. “This new company lacks experience, and the transition has been chaotic,” said a travel agent involved in the process.
Sources alleged that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), tasked with coordinating logistics, has exacerbated delays by failing to process payments and documents efficiently. Pilgrims and tour operators report bureaucratic bottlenecks, with many accusing NAHCON of “thwarting efforts” to meet the deadline.
With only 15,000 registrations confirmed, fears are mounting that over 80,000 Nigerians who paid the mandatory N4.5 million ($3,000) deposit may lose their chance to perform Hajj. “I sold land to pay for this pilgrimage.” lamented an intending pilgrim.
The crisis echoes last year’s disaster under former NAHCON Chairman Jalal Ahmad Arabi, who was sacked unceremoniously after Nigerian governors who paid millions for VIP tents in Mina’s Jamrat area were stranded without accommodations. Saudi authorities confirmed that all 2025 VIP tents in Jamrat—a zone reserved for dignitaries near the stoning site—have been snapped up by other nations. Nigerian state governors and elites who prepaid for premium packages face humiliation, with no alternatives available.
NAHCON officials have yet to provide a clear resolution plan, stating only that they are “working tirelessly” to address the challenges. Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry has reaffirmed that the deadline is non-negotiable, leaving Nigeria’s Hajj hopes hanging by a thread.
On Monday 10th February 2025, Vice-Presient Kashim Shettima met with the management of the Commission charging them “to take all necessary measures to ensure a smooth and unhindered pilgrimage operation” However, this impasse If unresolved, could mark Nigeria’s worst Hajj preparation failure in decades, undermining public trust in NAHCON and sparking financial turmoil for affected pilgrims. Stakeholders urge immediate intervention to avert a diplomatic and religious debacle.
