President Bola Tinubu has ordered the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to urgently review and slash the recently announced 2026 Hajj fares to make the pilgrimage more affordable for intending pilgrims.
This directive was disclosed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with NAHCON officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NAHCON had earlier fixed the 2026 Hajj fares after consultations with relevant stakeholders:
Maiduguri–Yola Zone (Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba): ₦8,318,336.67
Other Northern States: ₦8,244,813.67
Southern States: ₦8,561,013.67
However, Hadeija said the President’s directive aims to bring the total cost down to between ₦7.6 million and ₦7.7 million, depending on how quickly pilgrims make payments through their respective State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards.
“The earlier the payments are made and remitted to NAHCON, the faster the Commission can process the purchase of foreign exchange through the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Hadeija explained. “We are confident that this will result in a significant reduction in Hajj costs this year.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruk Yaro, commended President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their swift intervention, noting that their decision would ease the financial burden on many intending pilgrims.
“We are very happy with this move. It shows that the President and his Vice truly have the welfare of Nigerian Muslims at heart,” Yaro said.
Similarly, the Secretary of NAHCON, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, described the directive as a welcome relief, assuring that the commission would work round the clock to achieve the new target.
“The lower the Hajj fare, the more Muslims can fulfill this important pillar of Islam,” Mohammad stated. “We are already working to ensure the revised fare is announced within the next two days.”
The review is expected to make the 2026 Hajj more accessible to thousands of Nigerian Muslims struggling with high costs amid economic challenges.
