Pilgrims to pay 2.5% increase as NAHCON announces final Hajj fare

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), yesterday, announced the final fare expected of Nigerian intending pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, said the final Hajj fare followed approval from the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to NAHCON, intending pilgrims from Southern states are expected to pay N8,784,085.59 while their counterparts from the Northern part will pay N8,457,685.59.

Similarly, intending pilgrims from Borno and Adamawa states are billed to pay N8,327,125.59. The differential in the charges is based on nautical mile differences between the zones and destination.

Although the commission has yet to announce the benchmark of foreign exchange rates for the final figures, the 2025 fare indicated a slight increase compared to the amount charged in 2024.

In 2024, pilgrims from the South paid N8,454,464.74, indicating an increase of N329,620.59 (3.9 per cent) in 2025 fare.

Also, pilgrims from the North are expected to pay an additional N203,220.85 (2.46 per cent) for the 2025 Hajj compared to last year’s N8,254,464.74 paid. Adamawa and Borno pilgrims will pay the increased fare of N101,660.85 (1.23 per cent) this year compared to N8,225,464.74, the amount paid during the 2024 exercise.

According to the release by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, the modest effort on the fare was reached after extensive consultations by high-powered delegations from the Presidency, state and other critical stakeholders. The statement added that further details and breakdown of the fare, including the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), would be announced soon.