November 10, (THEWILL) — The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a major reduction in the cost of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, bringing relief to thousands of Muslims across the country who had worried about the rising expense of performing the sacred journey to Makkah.
NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, who disclosed this, said the move followed an appeal by Vice President Kashim Shettima seeking a review of the fares to ease the burden on intending pilgrims.
NAHCON described the gesture as a reflection of “genuine empathy towards the financial struggles of many Nigerians seeking to fulfil their spiritual obligation.”
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission highlighted that the new fare structure cuts between N748,000 and N793,000 from the initial 2025 figures, depending on each pilgrim’s departure zone.
“The largest reduction was recorded for pilgrims in the Southern Zone, where the fare has been reduced by N792,943.83. The revised cost for the Southern Zone now stands at N7,991,141.76, down from the previous N8,784,085.59.
“Pilgrims departing from the Northern Zone will see a reduction of N760,915.83, bringing the revised fare to N7,696,769.76. Meanwhile, the Borno and Adamawa Zone—which has the lowest fare nationally—has a new rate of N7,579,020.96, reflecting a saving of N748,104.63.
“This downward review underscores the administration’s commitment to supporting Nigerian Muslims and ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey of faith”, the statement added.
NAHCON further directed all intending pilgrims to complete their payments by 5 December 2025, describing the date as “critical for finalising arrangements and securing flight slots for the 2026 exercise.”
It said the reduction would make the pilgrimage more accessible and rekindle hope for those who had lost faith in their ability to afford it.
“We are confident this gesture will restore many dreams and strengthen the spirit of unity among Nigerian Muslims”, the commission added.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reduced the 95,000 slots given to Nigeria to 66,910, with effect from 2026. Nigeria had maintained the previous slot for three years.
NAHCON said the slash was due to the inability of Nigeria to utilise the previous slot during the 2024 and 2025 hajj.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
