Tinubu orders immediate slash in 2026 Hajj fare

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

In a decisive move reflecting his administration’s sensitivity to economic realities, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to immediately slash the 2026 Hajj fare, a relief that could see thousands of intending pilgrims pay far less than they did last year.

The directive, conveyed through Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, comes as the naira continues to appreciate against the dollar, a major determinant of Hajj cost. NAHCON has been given just two days to submit a revised fare schedule.

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“The President believes Nigerians should feel the impact of the reforms,” Vice President Shettima told NAHCON officials and state representatives. “The improvement in exchange rates must reflect in the new fares, and the benefits should go directly to the pilgrims.”

According to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, the review was born out of fairness and economic sense. “Last year, pilgrims paid as high as ₦8.5 million to ₦8.6 million based on the then exchange rate. With the naira now gaining ground, it would be unjustifiable to retain those figures,” he said.

He added that the Vice President had instructed NAHCON to adopt a more realistic rate that mirrors the current value of the naira, promising a “significant reduction” once the review is completed.

For NAHCON, the directive signals renewed hope for more Nigerians who have long desired to fulfill the religious obligation but were deterred by the rising cost. The commission’s Secretary, Dr Mustapha Mohammad, described the presidential order as “a welcome development” that will “open the door for more Muslim faithful to perform this important pillar of Islam.”

He assured that the commission would “work round the clock” to meet the two-day deadline and announce fares that reflect affordability and fairness.

Echoing similar excitement, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu Yaro, Chairman of the Kebbi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Deputy Chairman of the Forum of State Pilgrims Boards, applauded the Tinubu administration for “listening to the cries of the people.”

“We are happy because the President and Vice President have stepped in at the right time,” Yaro said. “This intervention will surely bring joy to many families preparing for the pilgrimage.”

With NAHCON racing against the clock to recalculate the fares, Muslim faithful across the country now await an official announcement one that could redefine the affordability of the 2026 Hajj and reinforce the administration’s promise of economic relief for Nigerians.