Tinubu Directs Hajj Commission to Slash 2026 Pilgrimage Costs Following Naira Appreciation
In a significant move aimed at easing the financial burden on Nigerian Muslims, President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately review and reduce the recently announced fares for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The intervention, driven by the recent positive performance of the Naira against the US dollar, is expected to translate into substantial savings for prospective pilgrims, potentially lowering costs by nearly one million Naira.
Presidential Intervention Spurs Fare Review
The directive was conveyed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, following a crucial meeting with NAHCON officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, convened at the instance of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, centered on the urgent need to recalibrate the pilgrimage cost structure in light of improving economic indicators.
Senator Hadejia explained the rationale behind the presidential directive, highlighting the direct link between Hajj costs and foreign exchange rates. “The Hajj fare component is about 95 to 96 percent foreign exchange based,” he stated. “The fares announced by NAHCON were based on a very pessimistic exchange rate of N1,550 to the dollar. With the rates continuing to improve steadily due to the government’s economic reforms, it is only right that we pass these benefits on to the pilgrims.”
From Pessimistic Projections to Realistic Rates
Earlier, NAHCON, after extensive consultations with stakeholders, had set the 2026 Hajj fares. The structure placed the Maiduguri-Yola zone (covering Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, and Taraba states) at N8,318,336.67. Pilgrims from other Northern States were to pay N8,244,813.67, while those from the Southern States faced the highest cost of N8,561,013.67.
These figures were calculated during a period of significant currency volatility. However, the sustained appreciation of the Naira has created a new financial reality. The Vice-President questioned the logic of maintaining last year’s high prices when the fundamental cost driver—the exchange rate—had improved so dramatically. “If during the last Hajj pilgrimage, pilgrims paid between N8.5 to N8.6 million based on a negative exchange rate, now that the exchange rate has improved, then we should also pass the benefits to them,” Senator Hadejia emphasized.
A New, More Affordable Pilgrimage Fare
The commission has now been tasked with applying a more current and realistic exchange rate to its calculations. This swift recalculation is expected to yield a significantly lower fare for the 2026 spiritual journey. “If they apply that, we should be able to bring the Hajj fare down to between N7.6 and N7.7 million,” revealed the Deputy Chief of Staff.
This represents a potential reduction of over N800,000 for some pilgrims, a substantial decrease that could make the fifth pillar of Islam accessible to a much broader segment of the Nigerian Muslim community. The final, revised figure is slated to be officially announced within the next 48 hours.
The Role of Timely Payments
Senator Hadejia also pointed out that the realization of these lower costs is contingent on the cooperation of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the pilgrims themselves. He stressed the importance of prompt remittance of funds to lock in the favorable rates. “The faster the pilgrims pay their Hajj fares and the states remit them to NAHCON, the faster the commission can pass the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria to purchase the dollars at the current improved rate,” he explained.
This creates a time-sensitive window of opportunity. A coordinated and speedy collection process is essential to capitalize on the present currency gains and deliver the promised cost reduction to the people.
Stakeholders Hail the Presidential Move
The presidential directive has been met with widespread approval from key figures within the Hajj ecosystem. Alhaji Faruk Yaro, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, expressed profound gratitude for the timely intervention. “We are very happy because the President and the Vice-President have already intervened,” he said. “We thank God for what they have done, which is expected to bring down the cost of the Hajj fare.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, the Secretary of NAHCON, welcomed the development, acknowledging its potential to democratize the pilgrimage. “It is a welcome development, and the lower the Hajj fare is, the more Muslims will have the opportunity of performing the Hajj,” Dr. Mohammad stated. “As directed by the Vice-President, we will work tirelessly between today and tomorrow to see that we reduce it to an affordable rate where each and every Muslim will have the opportunity to perform this very important pillar of Islam.”
Broader Economic Context and Impact
This move is seen by many as a tangible benefit of the federal government’s ongoing economic reforms. The policies, which initially led to a sharp depreciation of the Naira, have begun to bear fruit, with the currency staging a strong recovery in recent weeks. The decision to proactively adjust the Hajj fares demonstrates an attempt to ensure that ordinary citizens feel the positive impact of these macro-economic adjustments.
For millions of Nigerian Muslims, the Hajj pilgrimage is a lifelong spiritual ambition. However, the escalating cost in recent years, largely fueled by forex challenges, has placed it out of reach for many. The Tinubu administration’s directive to NAHCON is therefore not just an economic adjustment but a significant socio-religious intervention. It underscores a commitment to facilitating religious obligations and alleviating financial pressure on citizens in a critical aspect of their faith.
The coming days will be crucial as NAHCON works to finalize the new figures. All eyes will be on the commission’s announcement, which is eagerly awaited by prospective pilgrims across the nation hoping for a more affordable path to fulfilling their spiritual duty.
Full credit to the original publisher: Dateline Nigeria – https://dateline.ng/tinubu-directs-nahcon-to-reduce-2026-hajj-fares/