Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Usman, has called for a resilient financial reform in Nigeria's Hajj and Umrah sector.
Speaking at his first public engagement as Chairman during the second National Stakeholders Summit in Abuja, Usman stressed the need for innovative financing to make pilgrimages more accessible.
Themed "Sustainable Hajj Financing: Developing a Resilient Model for Nigerian Pilgrims and Operators," the summit attracted stakeholders from government, finance, and the private sector.
Dignitaries present included representatives of Vice President Kashim Shettima, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar.
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Usman lauded the Hajj Institute of Nigeria for hosting the summit and acknowledged the support of Jaiz Bank and other non-interest financial institutions.
In a major announcement, he revealed NAHCON's onboarding of three new partners Alternative Bank, TAJ Bank, and Lotus Bank into the Hajj Savings Scheme.
According to him, this strategic expansion is aimed at deepening financial inclusion and easing long-term planning for pilgrims.
"These banks offer ethical, non-interest services that will reduce cost barriers and strengthen the sustainability of our pilgrimage financing model," Usman said.
