Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) has called on the Federal Government to decentralise passport services from Abuja and Lagos to states across the country, saying the concentration of facilities in the two cities is creating avoidable administrative hurdles for intending pilgrims preparing for the 2027 Hajj.
Chairman of the Agency, Aliyu Musa, made the call in an interview in Sokoto, stressing that timely access to passports and other travel documents was critical to the successful coordination of the annual pilgrimage.
He said the existing arrangement had placed considerable pressure on state PWAs, which are required to process documentation for large numbers of intending pilgrims within limited timelines ahead of visa processing and other Hajj preparations.
He said decentralizing passport services would bring the process closer to pilgrims, reduce unnecessary journeys and expenses, and enable state agencies to complete documentation more efficiently.
“The centralisation of passport offices in Abuja and Lagos is creating administrative bottlenecks for PWAs across the country.
“There is an urgent need to decentralise passport services so that intending pilgrims can obtain and process their travel documents closer to their places of residence,” he said.
The chairman noted that Hajj preparations operate within strict and interconnected timelines, warning that delays in passport processing could have a wider impact on visa documentation, flight arrangements and the overall readiness of pilgrims.
According to him, compelling intending pilgrims from distant parts of the country to rely on Abuja and Lagos for passport-related services increases transportation costs, congestion and administrative pressure, particularly as the Hajj season approaches.
He therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies responsible for passport administration to establish functional passport offices in all states or substantially strengthen existing facilities to meet the growing demand for travel documentation.
Musa said a state-based passport system would not only ease the burden on intending pilgrims but also improve coordination between state PWAs, the Nigeria Immigration Service and other federal institutions involved in Hajj preparations.
He said the reform would be particularly beneficial to states with large numbers of intending pilgrims, where efficient documentation remains essential to meeting deadlines set for the annual pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto PWA chairman clarified that the agency had not commenced fresh registration for the 2027 Hajj, following the allocation of additional slots to the state by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He explained that the additional slots were specifically meant for intending pilgrims who had already deposited their Hajj fares but could not secure slots when the state’s initial quota was exhausted.
“The additional allocation is not for new applicants. It is meant for intending pilgrims who had already paid but could not secure seats because the available slots were limited at the time of registration,” Musa clarified.
He consequently urged members of the public to disregard rumours and unverified reports suggesting that the agency had opened another registration window, advising prospective pilgrims to obtain information only through official channels of the Sokoto PWA and NAHCON.
Musa also acknowledged the continued support of Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to the state’s Hajj operations, saying the governor had remained committed to providing the necessary backing for the welfare and effective coordination of Sokoto pilgrims.
He assured intending pilgrims that the agency would continue to work with NAHCON and other relevant authorities to address emerging administrative challenges and ensure that pilgrims are adequately prepared for the 2027 Hajj, while pursuing a transparent and orderly pilgrimage process.
