NAHCON fixes N4.5m tentative fee for 2024 hajj

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has directed state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to activate preparation for the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Consequently, the regulator fixed a tentative fare of N4.5 million per slot, just as it asked the affected boards to begin collection of deposits from prospective pilgrims in their states.

The Saudi Arabia authorities have already allotted 95,000 slots to Nigeria in next year’s pilgrimage, out of which 71, 000 seats had been allocated to the 36 states, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Nigeria Armed Forces.

NAHCON chairman, Zikrullah Hassan, gave the directive yesterday during a meeting with chairmen and executive secretaries of the boards in Abuja.

Stating that the 2024 hajj fare would be expensive due to the prevailing Naira to dollar exchange rate, noted that the Federal Government’s unification of foreign exchange might also play a major factor in the increase.

He said: “I must tell you that next year’s hajj is going to be expensive. This is something we must prepare for, starting from today. I am not saying we will be able to know the cost today, but what we must be able to know is that the hajj is going to be expensive.”