Tinubu Orders NAHCON to Reduce 2026 Hajj Fares
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately review and reduce the cost of the 2026 Hajj fares earlier announced by the commission.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Monday after a meeting between NAHCON officials and top government aides at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NAHCON had, after consultations with stakeholders, fixed the 2026 Hajj fares as follows: N8,318,336.67 for intending pilgrims from the Maiduguri–Yola Zone (covering Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, and Taraba States), N8,244,813.67 for Northern States, and N8,561,013.67 for Southern States.
However, Hadeija explained that President Tinubu directed the commission to explore all options to make the pilgrimage more affordable for Nigerian Muslims.
“This meeting was essentially called at the instance of His Excellency, the Vice-President, to look at the possibility of reducing the Hajj fare for the 2026 pilgrimage,” Hadeija said.
He noted that about 95 to 96 percent of the fare components are foreign exchange-based, adding that the initial calculation was pegged on a pessimistic exchange rate of N1,550 per dollar.
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“Now that the naira has continued to appreciate due to the government’s ongoing economic reforms, it is only fair that intending pilgrims also enjoy the benefit of this improvement,” he said.
According to Hadeija, the government expects the revised fare to fall within the range of N7.6 million to N7.7 million per pilgrim, depending on the final computation.
“The final figure will be announced in the next two days,” he added, emphasizing that the quick remittance of payments by state pilgrim welfare boards would determine how swiftly NAHCON could access foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He further stated, “If remittances are made promptly, we foresee a significant reduction in the Hajj fares this year.”
In his reaction, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruk Yaro, commended President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima for their intervention.
“We are very happy because the President and Vice-President have intervened to make the Hajj more affordable. We thank God for their efforts, which will certainly bring down the cost,” Yaro said.
Similarly, the Secretary of NAHCON, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, described the directive as a welcome development.
“The lower the Hajj fare, the more Muslims will have the opportunity to perform this important pillar of Islam. As directed by the Vice-President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to arrive at an affordable rate,” he assured.
By PRNigeria
