Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has approved the establishment of desk offices for Jaiz Bank, as well as the newly introduced Taj Bank, Lotus Bank, and Alternative Bank, across the 36 State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards nationwide.
The announcement was made by Dr. Barrister Abdulmumeen Abdulhameed Aliyu ACArb, Team Leader of the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), during his official visit to the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and key stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States from February 25 to 27, 2025. The visit aimed to raise awareness and update officials on the Hajj Savings Scheme.
Dr. Aliyu emphasized that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), under the leadership of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman and its executive members, is working diligently to strengthen the Hajj Savings Scheme by establishing flexible agreements with banks and intensifying public awareness efforts in collaboration with Hajj and Umrah stakeholders.
He highlighted the HSS as the most accessible pathway for Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and urged state stakeholders, particularly religious leaders, to educate their communities on the scheme’s benefits.
Dr. Aliyu stressed that increased participation in the scheme would enable Nigeria to fully utilize its annual Hajj quota of 95,000 pilgrims, maintaining its position as the fifth-largest Hajj contingent globally. He expressed optimism that, with full adoption, Nigeria could eventually rival Indonesia, which currently has the largest contingent.
Additionally, he revealed that in 2024, HSS subscribers collectively benefited from ₦2 million in profit accrued from their savings, which helped them complete their Hajj payments. He noted that broader participation would also boost the internally generated revenue of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, enabling them to sponsor more officials to serve Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Another key advantage of the scheme, according to Dr. Aliyu, is the timely remittance of funds, allowing states to secure better service rates in Saudi Arabia. Early payments would prevent the last-minute rush that often results in higher costs and compromised service quality.
Furthermore, he explained that the HSS could help stabilize the rising cost of Hajj, which has been impacted by exchange rate fluctuations and inflation.
With the inclusion of Lotus Bank, Alternative Bank, and Taj Bank in the scheme, Dr. Aliyu expressed confidence that more Nigerians would be encouraged to participate, as customers of these banks can now enroll in the HSS.
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As part of the commission’s agreement with participating banks, subscribers who have saved at least 50% of the Hajj fare will receive financial support to complete their payments, with the balance covered through continued HSS contributions.
He further disclosed that subscribers with savings exceeding the Hajj fare would have the option to convert the excess funds into U.S. dollars for personal use while in Saudi Arabia.
In response, the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States pledged their full support in promoting the Hajj Savings Scheme to ensure wider participation among Nigerian Muslims.
