In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Hajiya Fatima Usara, confirmed the development. According to her, the new fare adjustments come after thorough consultations with relevant stakeholders and final approval from the appropriate authorities.
Under the new arrangement, pilgrims from the Maiduguri/Yola Zone will now pay N7,579,020.96, down from N8,118,033.67. Those in the Nor
thern Zone will pay N7,696,769.76, reduced from N8,244,813.67, while intending pilgrims from the Southern Zone will pay N7,991,141.76, previously pegged at N8,561,013.67.
Usara explained that the revised fares were calculated using an exchange rate of N1,443 per dollar, resulting in reductions of N539,013, N548,043.91, and N569,871.91 for the Maiduguri/Yola, Northern, and Southern zones respectively.
She urged all intending pilgrims to complete their fare remittances by December 5, to enable the commission to transfer all payments to its IBAN account ahead of Saudi Arabia’s deadline. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has fixed December 21 as the final date for transferring funds for the basic services contract, stressing that there will be no deadline extension.
According to Usara, transfers to IBAN accounts usually take between 10 days to two weeks to be credited, hence the urgency for early payments. She also revealed that the previous slot allocations for states no longer apply, as the new arrangement will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This means states that remit their Hajj fares earlier will secure their slots first.
At a meeting held on Monday, the Chairman of the Forum of States, Alhaji Idris Almakura, called on members to expedite their remaining assignments in Saudi Arabia and return to Nigeria promptly. He emphasized the importance of mobilizing intending pilgrims quickly to meet the registration and payment deadlines.
Almakura further reminded state officials that Nigeria’s time frame to fill its Hajj quota for the 2025 pilgrimage remains tight, urging them to act swiftly and efficiently.
The announcement by NAHCON is seen as a welcome development for many Muslims across Nigeria, offering a more affordable opportunity to fulfill one of the pillars of Islam.