The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a downward review of the Hajj fares for the 2026 pilgrimage, following the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the Commission, the decision came after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders and the necessary approval from appropriate authorities.
Under the new arrangement, pilgrims from the Borno/Adamawa Zone, which covers the Northeast region, will pay ₦7,579,020.96, compared to ₦8,118,033.67 paid in previous years.
Similarly, pilgrims from the Northern Zone, comprising the Northwest and North Central regions, will now pay ₦7,696,769.76, down from ₦8,244,813.67.
Those from the Southern Zone—comprising the Southwest, Southeast, and South-South—will pay ₦7,991,141.76, compared to ₦8,561,013.67 in previous years.
NAHCON said; “the review demonstrates the Nigerian Government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on intending pilgrims while ensuring a smooth and affordable Hajj exercise.’
According to the Commission, “the reviewed fares were computed based on an exchange rate of ₦1,443 per US dollar. This adjustment results in reductions of ₦539,013, ₦548,043.91, and ₦569,871.91 for the Northeast, Northern, and Southern zones respectively.”
NAHCON advised intending pilgrims to complete their Hajj fare remittances before 5th December 2026, to allow sufficient time for fund transfers into NAHCON’s IBAN account before Saudi Arabia’s deadline.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has fixed 21 December 2026 as the final date for transferring all funds for the basic services contract and has stated that “the deadline will not be extended.”
Given that transfers into IBAN accounts typically take between two to 10 weeks to clear, NAHCON said; “early payment is necessary to avoid missing the Saudi deadline.”
Meanwhile, following the announcement made on 10th November 2025 that previous slot allocations to states no longer apply, only states that remit their Hajj fares early will secure slots for their registered pilgrims on a first-come, first-served basis.
To meet the new schedule, the Chairman of the Forum of States, Idris Almakura, urged his members to conclude their ongoing assignments in Saudi Arabia and return to Nigeria promptly to mobilise for Hajj registration, emphasising the urgency of meeting Nigeria’s quota for the 2026 pilgrimage.