The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has hinted that Nigerians intending to perform this year’s Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may have the fare reduced if certain waivers being expected by the commission is approved by the Federal Government.
NAHCON had on Monday announced a fare of N8,327,125.59 for Adamawa/Borno zone; and N8,457,685.59 for the Northern zone, while Southern zone fare is fixed at N8,784,085.59 and described this as a product of extensive collaboration.
The Hajj body stated that the fare was approved by the Office of the Vice-President, while the commission, as well as the Presidency and state, pilgrims welfare boards “did their best to maintain the Hajj fare within the same range as previously charged”.
Fielding questions from journalists in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, excerpt which was made available by the Commission’s media team to journalists in Abuja, Prof Usman informed that NAHCON was expecting some waivers on some charges which if approved might likely bring down the fare payable by Nigerians this year.
While saying that the commission did not receive any financial support from the Federal Government did not, Usman said the government had played significant role in facilitating engagements and discussions with some institutions.
“Actually, we have not received any financial support from the Federal Government. However, the Federal Government has played significant role in facilitating all the engagements, discussions with some institutions.
“We are also expecting waivers on some charges which if approved may likely being down the fare,” the NAHCON CEO said.
According to him, following the commission’s consultations with Saudi-bases service providers, it had been able to secure reduction in charges paid for services at the Masha’ir (holy sites of Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah) to SR4,050 as against the SR4,770 paid last year.
“Our consultation, our contacting with service providers result to huge get huge discount from service providers. For example, the service provider who used to give us service at Masha’if, that is Arafat, Mina, and Muzdalifah, last year charged us SR4,770.
“With this discussion, this year they bring it down to SR4,050. This is the way we got it, ” the chairman informed.
Meanwhile, Usman has said that the deadline for payment of this year’s Hajj fare is January 31, insisting that any intending pilgrims who fail to pay by that date cannot participate in this year’s spiritual exercise.
“The deadline for payment of Hajj fare this year, 2025 is by 31at January 2025. Anyone who could not pay before this date, it means he cannot participate in this year’s Hajj.
“This is not our decision, I mean it is not a decision of the commission. Even it is not a decision if the Federal Government; it is a decision if the Saudi Arabia government. So we cannot do any otherwise,” he said.
Explaining the difference in the fare for this year’s Hajj, Usman informed that it was a result of distance to Saudi Arabia, saying that Adamawa/Borno zone is closer to Saudi Arabia than other parts of the country.
He explained that airlines fixed their prices according to distance to Saudi Arabia.
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