President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON), to immediately reduce the cost of the 2026 Hajj fares that it had recently announced.
Vice-President, Kashim Shettima handed down the President’s directive during a meeting with management and board members of NAHCON at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
He called for synergy among national and state officials, including state Governors, in streamlining and adopting a new set of fares for the exercise, and also urged prompt action by all stakeholders to ensure quick payments and timely remittances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate a hitch-free exercise.
Answering questions from journalists shortly after the meeting with the VP, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Haɗeija, said the meeting convened at the instance of the Vice President was to finalise preparations for the 2026 Hajj operations, particularly the determination of fares for the exercise.
He explained that the goal is to reduce the amount payable by pilgrims for the exercise, given the current trend in the economy occasioned by ongoing reforms being undertaken by the present administration.
He said: “Rates have continued to improve steadily, with the Naira appreciating based on the effects of the economic reforms of the government. The Vice-President felt that if pilgrims paid ₦8.5 million to ₦8.6 million based on negative exchange rate last year, and the exchange rate has improved, then the changes should reflect in the current fares, and the benefits should also be passed to the prospective pilgrims.
“So, the Commissions and all officers of the Hajj Commission are here and they have been told to immediately go to look at more realistic exchange rates. If we achieve what we envisage, then we will have a very significant reduction in the Hajj”.
On his part, the NAHCON Secretary, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, said the President’s directive would increase the number of intending pilgrims for this year’s exercise.
He said, “It is a welcome development and the lower the Hajj fare, the better for Muslim faithful intending to perform Hajj. So, as directed by the Vice-President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to see that we reduce it to the barest minimum, and an affordable rate for every Muslim faithful to have the opportunity to perform this very important pillar of Islam”.
