In a renewed push to enhance the operations of the Hajj Savings Scheme, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has intensified its collaboration with three prominent non-interest financial institutions — The Alternative Bank, TAJBank, and LOTUS Bank. These discussions, which recently gathered momentum, aim at fast-tracking the development and deployment of a robust digital portal for the Hajj Savings Scheme, a strategic initiative under the commission’s financial reform agenda.
The Hajj Savings Scheme, conceptualized to ease the financial burden of intending pilgrims and to gradually build up savings over time, is a major component of NAHCON’s long-term plan to domesticate Hajj funding and reduce dependency on government subsidies. With the increasing interest of Nigerian Muslims in fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam, NAHCON’s move is timely, ensuring transparency, accountability, and accessibility through a tech-driven savings platform.
Representatives from the commission and the partnering Islamic banks — The Alternative Bank, TAJBank, and LOTUS Bank — have reportedly reached advanced stages in negotiations. Sources close to the discussion indicate that the portal will not only allow prospective pilgrims to open and manage their Hajj savings accounts digitally but also track contributions, access educational resources on Hajj preparation, and receive updates on Hajj policies and travel arrangements.
The choice of these financial institutions is deliberate. All three banks operate within the principles of Islamic finance, which prohibits interest (riba) and promotes ethical banking. Their involvement aligns with the religious sensitivity of Hajj savings and strengthens public confidence in the integrity of the scheme. TAJBank, Nigeria’s first Islamic bank with a national license, alongside LOTUS Bank and The Alternative Bank — the newest entrant into the non-interest banking space — have all demonstrated strong commitment to financial inclusion and digital innovation.
Speaking on the development, a senior official at NAHCON affirmed that the collaboration is driven by the Commission’s determination to provide a seamless and transparent process for Hajj hopefuls, especially with growing demands for digital solutions in financial services. He noted that the portal would cater to intending pilgrims across all 36 states and the FCT, with special features to guide users in line with both financial prudence and spiritual readiness.
The Hajj Savings Scheme was officially launched in 2020 and has since been gaining traction among Muslims in Nigeria. Its core objective is to enable citizens to save gradually towards the Hajj pilgrimage while enjoying benefits such as profit-sharing under Islamic banking principles and the potential to be selected earlier for the holy journey based on savings maturity and consistency.
With NAHCON’s ongoing tech-drive and the backing of compliant financial institutions, the digital transformation of the Hajj Savings Scheme portal is expected to redefine pilgrimage funding in Nigeria. The commission’s partnership with TAJBank, LOTUS Bank, and The Alternative Bank underscores its commitment to providing a sustainable, faith-compliant, and customer-friendly savings system — ultimately setting a new benchmark for Hajj management in sub-Saharan Africa.
As discussions draw to a close, Nigerians are urged to anticipate the launch of the portal, which is poised to become a game-changer in Hajj administration and an exemplar of how faith-based financial solutions can meet modern-day demands.
