Nigeria Adjusts 2026 Hajj Fares Amidst Slot Reduction

The Federal Government, through the National Hajj Commission, announced a reduction in the fees for the 2026 Hajj journey. The total cost for intending pilgrims has been successfully lowered from an initial figure over $\text{N}8$ million to a revised average of $\text{N}7.6$ million.

This adjustment follows a recommendation from the Vice President. The Vice President urged the commission to reduce the initial price proposals across all departure zones.

Professor Abdullahi Saleh, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, confirmed the news from Saudi Arabia.

Significant Cost Savings by Zone

The revised fares offer substantial savings for prospective pilgrims. The exact reduction amount varies based on the pilgrim’s departure zone:

• Southern Zone: Pilgrims here receive the largest cut, saving $\text{N}792,943.83$. The revised cost for the Southern Zone is $\text{N}7,991,141.76$, down from $\text{N}8,784,085.59$.
• Northern Zone: Pilgrims traveling from the Northern Zone will save $\text{N}760,915.83$. Their revised fare now stands at $\text{N}7,696,769.76$.
• Borno and Adamawa Zone: This zone maintains the lowest national fare. Pilgrims here save $\text{N}748,104.63$, bringing the new rate to $\text{N}7,579,020.96$.

This reduction is expected to make the annual pilgrimage more accessible for many Nigerian Muslims.

Key Deadline and Pilgrimage Slot Changes

The commission has also issued two crucial updates regarding the 2026 exercise:

1. Payment Deadline: All prospective pilgrims must complete the full payment of their fare by December 5, 2025. Meeting this deadline is vital for securing necessary slots and finalizing preparations.
2. Quota Reduction: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has informed Nigeria of a significant decrease in its allocated pilgrim quota, effective from 2026. The previous quota of 95,000 pilgrims has been reduced to 66,910. The commission attributed this cut to Nigeria’s inability to fully utilize the total allocated slots during the 2024 and 2025 Hajj exercises.