Tinubu orders immediate reduction of 2026 hajj fares

By Salisu Sani-Idris

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately reduce the cost of the 2026 Hajj fares recently announced.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with NAHCON officials at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAHCON, after due consultations with relevant stakeholders, announced the 2026 Hajj fares as follows:

Maiduguri-Yola Zone (Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba): ₦8,318,336.67

Northern States: ₦8,244,813.67

Southern States: ₦8,561,013.67

However, Hadejia said President Tinubu saw the need for the commission to explore the possibility of reducing the Hajj fare.

He stated:

“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.

“As you know, the Hajj fare component is about 95 to 96 per cent foreign exchange-based.

“The fares announced by NAHCON were based on a very pessimistic exchange rate of ₦1,550 to the dollar.

“However, the rates have continued to improve steadily, with the naira appreciating due to the economic reforms being implemented by the government.”

Hadejia noted that during the last Hajj pilgrimage, pilgrims paid between ₦8.5 million and ₦8.6 million due to the high exchange rate. Now that the exchange rate has improved, the benefits should be passed on to intending pilgrims.

He added:

“All the officers of the Hajj Commission are here, and they have been told to immediately re-evaluate using a more realistic exchange rate.

“If they apply the improved rate, we should be able to bring the Hajj fare down to between ₦7.6 million and ₦7.7 million.

“The final figure will be announced in the next two days.”

He stressed the importance of quick remittance by State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards:

“The faster the pilgrims pay their Hajj fares and the funds are remitted to NAHCON, the quicker the Commission can forward it to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to purchase dollars.

“If that is achieved, we foresee a significant reduction in the Hajj fares this year.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruk Yaro, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima for their timely intervention.

“We are very happy that the President and Vice-President have intervened.

“We thank God for what they have done, which is expected to bring down the cost of the Hajj fare.”

Also speaking, the Secretary of NAHCON, Dr Mustapha Mohammad, described the development as welcome news.

“The lower the Hajj fare, the more Muslims will have the opportunity to perform the pilgrimage.

“As directed by the Vice-President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to reduce the fare to an affordable rate so that every Muslim can have the opportunity to fulfil this important pillar of Islam.”

(NAN)