President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately review and reduce the 2026 Hajj fares in line with the recent appreciation of the naira against the dollar.
Gatekeepers News reports that the announcement was made by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during a meeting with the management and board of NAHCON at the State House on Monday.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Communications, the president’s directive came as part of efforts to make the pilgrimage more affordable for intending pilgrims.
Earlier, NAHCON had fixed the Hajj fares at ₦8.1 million for pilgrims from the Maiduguri zone—covering Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba States—₦8.2 million for other northern states, and ₦8.5 million for those from southern states.
However, the Vice-President instructed the commission to submit a revised fare proposal within two days, reflecting the improved exchange rate.
Shettima emphasised the need for coordination among federal and state Hajj officials, including governors, to ensure uniform adoption of the new fares.
He also called for the prompt remittance of all payments to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to guarantee a smooth operation.
Speaking after the meeting, Ibrahim Hadeija, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, explained that the discussion focused on leveraging the naira’s recent gains to ease the financial burden on pilgrims.
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 a weaker exchange rate last year, then the benefits of the improved rate should be passed on to them this year.”
Mustapha Mohammad, NAHCON’s Secretary, welcomed the development, noting that it would enable more Muslims to fulfill the religious obligation.
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 reduce it to the barest minimum and make it affordable for every Muslim faithful.”
