By Olokuta Rofiat
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Hajj sector have urged the Federal Government to establish a National Hajj Policy to end recurring delays in payments by intending pilgrims and state governments, which often miss Saudi Arabia’s strict deadlines.
At the 2025 Post-Hajj Lecture organised by the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), in Abuja, Dr. Shehu Usman Muhammed, former Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, said the absence of legal guarantees makes financial institutions reluctant to grant loans to pilgrims or state boards.
He noted that many pilgrims are seasonal farmers who can only pay after harvest, clashing with Saudi Arabia’s timelines.
This year’s exercise was further complicated by new Saudi rules requiring earlier payments, including demands for settlement before Ramadan Umrah.
Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, Commissioner of Operations at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), confirmed the change strained both pilgrims and officials.
IHR Coordinator Ibrahim Muhammed also raised concerns over the growing “luxurisation” of Hajj, citing VIP tents, AI-driven services, automated transport, and premium accommodations, which he warned were eroding the pilgrimage’s spiritual essence.
Stakeholders proposed a savings-based policy similar to models in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, enabling pilgrims to contribute gradually or access bridging finance repayable after harvest. They also called for legal safeguards to assure financiers of repayment and protect the process from political disruptions.
