The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has established the 2024 Hajj fare at N4.8 million for Muslim pilgrims intending to participate from Nigeria.
The fare is regionally tiered, with pilgrims from the southern centre required to pay N4,899,000, those from the northern centre N4,699,000, and pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri centres N4,679,000 for the upcoming 2024 Hajj.
A statement from NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, informed the public that Chairman Mallam Jalal Ahmad Arabi had initially aimed to maintain the 2024 Hajj fare at the initial deposit of N4.5 million. The announcement of the feasible cost is in response to the approaching remittance deadline.
Intending pilgrims are advised to balance their Hajj fare by February 12th to facilitate the Commission’s fund transfer before the impending deadline.
Usara mentioned that Chairman Arabi had actively negotiated substantial discounts with service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in late January to reduce costs for pilgrims. However, due to the fluctuating dollar situation within the week, the Commission made the decision to consolidate gains by lowering service costs.
Without this intervention, the 2024 Muslim pilgrimage might have incurred a higher cost, possibly reaching around N6,000,000 (six million Naira).
Expressing regret, Chairman Arabi emphasised that the decision was influenced by the unstable dollar situation, necessitating a prompt response to remain within the range of N4.5 million, which he had worked towards.
He assured the public of his commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful Hajj pilgrimage for all participants, despite the challenges posed by foreign exchange factors.