The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the States Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards are to forward a new hajj fare proposal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval.
This is part of the resolution arrived at the meeting held on Thursday between NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare boards.
An inside source who spoke with HAJJ REPORTERS said, based on the directive of the President, “NAHCON proposed to utilise a new exchange rate of N1,484 to $1 to calculate the dollar components of the 2026 hajj fare.
Before then, a source in the Presidency who is familiar with the issue informed HAJJ REPORTERS that “NAHCON had earlier sought for an exchange rate of N1,300 for $1 in order to significantly reduce the Hajj fare, but he doesn’t know whether an approval has been given.
The new hajj fare will have about N300,000 less than the initial announcement of N8.5 million for the southern Zone, N8.2 million for the North and N8.1 million for pilgrims flying from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
If the proposal is approved, pilgrims from the Southern Zone will pay N8.251,000, while their Northern counterparts will pay N7. 9 million. Those from the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe axis will pay N7.8 million.
HAJJ REPORTERS gathered that NAHCON will forward the new proposed fare to the President on Monday for approval, with a Caveat that the government will shoulder the difference if the exchange rate increases above the proposed N1,484 to $1.
The proposal will also include that NAHCON will make a refund to pilgrims if the exchange rate falls below the stated price point.
