The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has given approval to 110 private tour operators for the issuance of 2024 Hajj licenses and slot allocations.
This announcement was made by Fatima Usara, Assistant Director at NAHCON, in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.
Mr. Usara explained that the approval followed a thorough screening process of the companies that met the necessary requirements for obtaining a hajj license.
These requirements include possessing a certificate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission and an International Air Transport Association Certificate (IATA).
Additionally, companies had to demonstrate accredited staff and principal officers with no criminal convictions, provide evidence of a minimum share capital of N30 million, possess a standard corporate office, and show a successful operation of eight years of Umrah or two years of Hajj.
To safeguard the interests of registered pilgrims, a refundable security deposit of N25 million was also required in case of contract violations or other infringements.
”A N25 million refundable security deposit must also be submitted. The purpose of this is to protect the interest of the registered pilgrims in case of contract violation or other infringements.” says Usara.
Out of the 155 companies that applied, 58 initially met the criteria, while 97 were disqualified.
However, an appeal process was allowed, leading to 80 companies appealing. Ultimately, 52 of these companies fulfilled the qualification criteria, resulting in a total of 110 private operators qualifying for the 2024 Hajj.
Mrs. Usara mentioned that further discussions are ongoing between NAHCON and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
These discussions revolve around the ministry’s policy to reduce the number of tour operators participating in the 2024 hajj operation from Nigeria and other parts of the world.
