2025 Hajj: Nigeria Faces Major Accommodation Challenges In Makkah

Nigeria Struggles to Secure Rooms for Pilgrims Ahead of 2025 Hajj

It’s crunch time for Nigeria as the country faces a looming accommodation crisis in Makkah for the 2025 Hajj season. The issue stems from a critical misstep—failing to input housing details for pilgrims under the state quota into Saudi Arabia's Nusuk electronic platform. Officials from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SMPWB) are now racing against the clock to find alternative accommodations after losing premium reservations to other nations.

This predicament has left many Nigerian states, especially those in the Northwest, Northeast, North-central, and South regions, scrambling for last-minute solutions. For years, these states have relied on top-tier hotels to house their pilgrims. Now, they're faced with the daunting task of finding new places to stay, and fast. It's not just a matter of convenience; securing accommodation is a mandatory step for obtaining Hajj visas through the Nusuk platform. Without it, pilgrims simply cannot participate in this sacred journey.

According to a source at the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, things were looking dire for Nigerian pilgrims, who might have missed out on this year's Hajj entirely. Fortunately, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah extended the accommodation deadline by ten days, giving Nigerian officials a small window to fix the issue. "Luckily, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah extended the accommodation deadline from March 25 to April 4," explained a Hajj official based in Saudi Arabia.

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With time ticking away, Nigerian officials must secure new accommodations and upload the necessary details onto the Nusuk platform before the new deadline. If they fail, pilgrims from the affected states won't be able to obtain visas, which means they'll miss the 2025 Hajj entirely.

Accusations of Mismanagement Point Fingers at NAHCON

Many stakeholders are pointing fingers at NAHCON for the current accommodation mess. Investigations reveal that while the commission initially advertised and shortlisted accommodation providers, it failed to make the necessary advance payments to lock in these reservations. This oversight allowed other countries to swoop in and take over the previously booked accommodations.

A NAHCON staff member revealed that states were blindsided by the situation, only becoming aware of the lost accommodations close to the March 25 deadline. "The NAHCON ICT team only realized late that most of the booked houses were no longer available, leading to this last-minute scramble," the staffer explained. As a result, states are now left with no choice but to secure whatever accommodations remain, regardless of location, service quality, or price.

"States pilgrim boards are now scavenging for houses from NAHCON’s non-accredited service providers just to meet up with the new deadline. Nobody is talking about quality or standard anymore. The key word now is availability," a NAHCON official remarked. In a surprising turn of events, NAHCON introduced a new list of housing providers who were not previously accredited, setting a uniform benchmark of SR3,000 per pilgrim bed space. Critics argue that this move is morally questionable since accommodation prices typically vary based on proximity to the Holy Mosque and service quality.

With time running out, some states have resorted to booking accommodations that cost far less than SR3,000, fearing that failing to secure any lodging would mean their pilgrims cannot participate in the Hajj. "I don’t have any option now. I just need houses for my pilgrims. Without securing a hotel for them, my pilgrims won’t come to the 2025 Hajj. That is our dilemma now. Nobody is talking about quality. Our concern is availability," lamented a state pilgrims’ board official from the Southwest.

Some NAHCON officials have also been accused of exploiting the crisis, using the situation as an opportunity to profit from desperate state officials. "Accommodation agents are having a field day, capitalizing on the desperation of Nigerian state officials. Some well-connected NAHCON staff are also using this as a conduit to siphon funds," an insider alleged.

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Pilgrims May Protest Over Subpar Accommodations

There’s growing concern that Nigerian pilgrims may protest the accommodation arrangements once they arrive in Makkah. The quality of lodging being secured at the last minute doesn’t meet the standards pilgrims have come to expect. "The Makkah accommodations are central to Hajj because pilgrims spend more than 80 percent of their days there," warned a commission official.

Further allegations have surfaced regarding NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman. Critics claim he used all available funds to pay two Masha’ir service providers instead of securing accommodations. Reports indicate he made full payments to Mashariq Aldhahabiah for 35,000 pilgrims and Ekram Aldyf for 25,000 pilgrims, despite Nigeria only booking 52,000 pilgrims for Masha’ir services. Observers question why NAHCON paid for 60,000 pilgrims when the official quota is lower.

Meanwhile, the chairman is currently in Saudi Arabia with about 50 staff members, though critics claim they have no defined roles in resolving the crisis. Some insiders allege that certain staff members are manipulating the situation for personal gain. "It is a kind of a rat race. Everyone is scavenging for a carcass to feast on," an official alleged.

NAHCON Chairman Denies Crisis Claims

In a statement issued on Sunday, Professor Usman dismissed concerns of any impending crisis and assured stakeholders that everything is on track for a smooth 2025 Hajj. He called for cooperation from all parties involved, emphasizing that he has been actively engaging with key players, including tour operators, Saudi service providers, state pilgrims’ boards, and health officials, to ensure seamless operations.