The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a significant downward review of the Hajj fare for the 2026 pilgrimage.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Commission’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara.
According to the statement, the revised fare for the Northern zone now stands at N7,696,769.76, while intending pilgrims from the Southern zone will pay N7,991,141.76.
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The breakdown of the reviewed fares is as follows:
- Maiduguri/Yola Zone: N7,579,020.96 (previously N8,118,033.67)
- Northern Zone: N7,696,769.76 (previously N8,244,813.67)
- Southern Zone: N7,991,141.76 (previously N8,561,013.67)
Usara said the new fares were computed based on an exchange rate of N1,443 per dollar, noting that intending pilgrims will enjoy reductions of N539,013, N548,043.91, and N569,871.91 respectively across the three zones.
She advised intending pilgrims to complete their fare remittances by December 5, 2025, to allow for timely transfer to NAHCON’s IBAN account ahead of Saudi Arabia’s deadline.
“The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set December 21 as the deadline for transferring all funds for the basic services contract and has vowed not to extend the date,” Usara stated.
“Transfers into IBAN accounts take 10 to 12 weeks before being credited, which may make it difficult to meet the deadline if payments are delayed,” she added.
She also disclosed that NAHCON had scrapped previous slot allocations to states, noting that allocation will now be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Usara quoted the Chairman of the Forum of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Idris Almakura, as urging members to conclude their ongoing assignments in Saudi Arabia and return to Nigeria immediately to mobilise for Hajj registration.
Almakura emphasized the urgency of filling Nigeria’s quota for the 2025 Hajj within the limited time frame provided by the Saudi authorities.
