By Jabiru Hassan
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organization dedicated to promoting transparency and effective policies in Hajj and Umrah operations, has called on all 36 state governors to provide loan facilities for their respective State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to facilitate early payments for the 2026 Hajj.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, on Sunday, the organization said the appeal—tagged “Save 2026 Hajj”—was prompted by the limited time available to meet Saudi Arabia’s strict registration deadlines.
“The 2026 Hajj calendar mandates every participating country to conclude registration by December, with clear directives that no extension will be granted,” the statement read. “This makes it difficult for intending pilgrims from Nigeria to make full payments within the stipulated timeframe.”
According to IHR, the compressed schedule could hinder both the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards from making adequate pre-Hajj arrangements unless they receive temporary funding assistance from state governments.
The CSO urged governors to emulate the proactive approach of Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, who recently approved an advance payment of ₦3.4 billion to the state pilgrims board to ensure smooth preparation for pilgrims in 2026.
“Governor Namadi had earlier made a similar advancement for the 2025 Hajj, a commendable gesture worthy of replication by other state governors,” the statement added.
IHR noted that Nigeria’s current Hajj registration model—where states register pilgrims, transfer funds to NAHCON, which then remits payments to Saudi service providers—is outdated and incompatible with the fast-paced, first-come, first-served system now enforced by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The organization emphasized that Nigeria, which ranks as the fifth-largest Hajj contingent globally and the biggest in Africa, has repeatedly struggled to manage Hajj timelines efficiently. These challenges have often led to embarrassing last-minute appeals for deadline extensions on airlifts and visa processing.
“We therefore appeal to the state governors to rescue the 2026 Hajj preparation by approving these loans on behalf of Nigerian pilgrims,” the statement concluded.
