The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has proposed ₦8.5 million as the tentative fare for the 2026 Hajj exercise. This was disclosed in a statement issued Thursday by the Commission’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, following a post-Hajj review meeting.
The meeting, which involved the Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, was convened to assess the 2025 Hajj operations and begin preparations for the next pilgrimage. According to the statement, the proposed fare is still subject to final negotiations on service contracts.
NAHCON also confirmed that Nigeria retained its 95,000-slot allocation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj. The allocation of slots to individual state welfare boards remains unchanged from the previous year.
The Commission’s Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support of Nigerian pilgrims and the Commission’s work.
The statement highlighted the Federal Government’s critical intervention, which allowed Hajj carriers to accept payments in Naira, thereby protecting pilgrims from foreign exchange volatility.
Also during the meeting:
- Commissioner for Planning, Research and Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Prof. Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, led discussions on the proposed 2026 Hajj Calendar.
- Commissioner for Operations, Anofiu Elegushi, addressed operational issues, including the possible rollover of contracts for the four airlines used during the 2025 Hajj.
Elegushi explained that such a rollover would help Nigeria secure airlift slots early, especially considering time constraints, bureaucratic processes, and alignment with the Saudi Arabian calendar and expectations.
