By Fatima Dayyab Usman

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has come to the rescue of Private Tour Operators (PTOs) by advancing payment for camp booking in Mashair, pending funding of their IBAN accounts.

This move follows a request by the PTOs for NAHCON’s intervention, as they faced challenges accessing the NUSUK MASAR contract portal, which was set to close on February 14, 2025.

According to Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Information and Publication at NAHCON, 4,601 spaces have been booked in Tent D, with booking still ongoing.

This advance payment ensures that Nigerian pilgrims under private tour operators have guaranteed access to visa processing and Mashair camp accommodation during the upcoming Hajj.

NAHCON’s intervention addresses a long-standing concern about transferring funds to Tour Operators’ IBAN accounts, which had prevented some operators from accessing visas for all their pilgrims.

The Commission’s Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh, approved this measure to prevent contract closures on the NUSUK MASAR portal from hindering operators’ access to visas.

In addition to securing camp slots for PTOs, NAHCON has also completed booking for 52,544 camp slots for Nigerian pilgrims under state quota.

The NAHCON Chairman expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their trust and support, which made this achievement possible.

The Chairman also commended NAHCON staff for their dedication to making the bookings successful.