2027 Hajj: States Step Up Preparations as NAHCON Announces Deadlines
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards and agencies in Kano, Kaduna and Taraba have intensified preparations for the 2027 Hajj following the announcement of the final pilgrimage fare and registration timelines by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The states said they were mobilising intending pilgrims, processing documentation and preparing to meet deadlines set by the Commission as the 2027 Hajj operation moves into a critical implementation phase.
In Taraba, the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said it had uploaded more than 50 per cent of its allocated slots through the NAHCON portal as part of the ongoing e-registration exercise.
The Board’s Public Relations Officer and Assistant Director of Information, Hamza Baba Muri, said stakeholders across the state welcomed NAHCON’s early announcement of the 2027 Hajj fare, saying it would give intending pilgrims more time to plan their finances.
He said stakeholders also appreciated the decision to maintain the fare without an increase despite prevailing economic challenges.
However, Muri said stakeholders had called on NAHCON and relevant authorities to review the current $500 Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA), arguing that rising prices of goods and services in Saudi Arabia had reduced its purchasing power.
2027 Hajj: States Step Up Preparations as NAHCON Announces Deadlines
He said stakeholders proposed increasing the allowance to between $800 and $1,000 to enable pilgrims meet basic needs during the pilgrimage.
In Kaduna, the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has intensified sensitisation across the state.
The agency’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Datti, said officials had embarked on visits to various Local Government Areas to engage stakeholders and prepare intending pilgrims for the 2027 exercise.
He assured that Kaduna remained committed to complying with NAHCON’s deadlines and operational requirements.
Similarly, the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board said it had expanded registration opportunities following NAHCON’s announcement.
Its PRO, Sulaiman Dederi, said the board had opened more channels for intending pilgrims to register, assuring that preparations were progressing as planned.
“We were expecting NAHCON’s announcements and had plans. Things are moving as anticipated, and compliance with the deadlines won’t be a problem,” Dederi said.
