Hajj Commission gives states ultimatum on pilgrims groupings

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Commissions, and Agencies to finalize the grouping of pilgrims into groups of 45 and complete data upload to the e-track portal by Friday, April 26, for this year’s Hajj. This directive, as stated by NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Information & Publications Division, Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, aims to facilitate visa issuance through the Saudi visa e-track platform and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s mandatory policy on Tafweej grouping for the 2024 Hajj movement.

In compliance with the new measures introduced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj operations, including the compulsory grouping of pilgrims into groups of 45, NAHCON emphasized that pilgrim visas will only be issued upon completion of a group of 45. NAHCON encourages pilgrims wishing to travel together to coordinate with their respective State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to arrange group travel. It emphasized that these groups of 45 will undertake all Hajj activities together, from departure from Nigeria to accommodation and movement in both Makkah and Madinah, as well as Masha’ir activities and the journey back to Nigeria.

NAHCON stressed that this is the final opportunity provided by the Saudis to finalize all arrangements for group travel by intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj operations. After the deadline, pilgrims will remain grouped with their selected group members, and their visas will be processed together.