NAHCON Pegs 2026 Hajj Fare At N8.5m

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a tentative fare of eight million five hundred thousand Naira (N8.5 million) for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

NAHCON Chairman Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman announced this yesterday during a strategic post-Hajj meeting with the Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards. The meeting aimed to review the 2025 Hajj operations and initiate early preparations for the 2026 pilgrimage.

Professor Usman also confirmed that Nigeria would retain its allocation of 95,000 slots from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the allocation of slots to state welfare boards will remain consistent with last year’s distribution.

A statement from NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, indicated that the provisional fare of ₦8.5 million was agreed upon during the meeting, pending final negotiations on all service contracts.

While expressing gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support to Nigerian pilgrims and the Commission, Professor Saleh Usman highlighted the Federal Government’s intervention that allowed Hajj carriers to accept payments in Naira, thereby shielding pilgrims from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

He also praised the Federal Government for instructing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend its previous policy requiring credit card-only payments for the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for pilgrims. This move could have disadvantaged many due to limited awareness and understanding.

Professor Usman encouraged participants to provide honest and constructive evaluations of the 2025 pilgrimage, emphasising successes, challenges faced, and potential areas for improvement.

In his remarks at the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum of States Executive Secretaries, Alhaji Idris Almakura, Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims’ Board, thanked NAHCON for organising the meeting. He urged the Commission to enhance collaboration with state boards through improved communication and timely clarifications. He called for the expedited resolution of outstanding matters from the 2025 Hajj to ensure a smooth transition into the planning for 2026.