(NAHCON) - The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has informed all the 36 states, FCT and other Muslim pilgrims welfare boards/agencies to start online registration of intending pilgrims for 2019 Hajj.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria made the decision during a post Hajj joint meeting with Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Agencies (SPWBs), on Thursday in Abuja, according to a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, the commission’s Head of public affairs division.

Usara said the decision to commence early registration was adopted after it was discovered that late registration of pilgrims was a major setback in the success of Hajj operations.

“The meeting agreed to tentatively peg the Hajj fare at N1.5 million pending final calculations,” Mrs Usara said.

She also said the meeting agreed that if the fare is deposited by installments, all payment should be concluded by February 2019.

NAHCON said intending pilgrims are to note that Hajj registration is to be done online at the cost of N500 only.

She said the charges are already included in the total Hajj fare.

”Meanwhile, intending pilgrims are to note that Hajj registration is to be done online, cost of which is five-hundred Naira only (500 Naira only), and these charges are already included in the total Hajj fare. No extra amount is to be charged for purchase of Hajj form because Hajj form is obsolete,” the statement added.