Nigerian pilgrims to pay near N3m each for 2023 hajj

Nigerian pilgrims to pay near N3m each for 2023 hajj

Muslims from Nigeria undertaken this year’s hajj will be paying between N2.88m and N2.99m per person, going by the new fare released by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Friday.

Chairman of NAHCON, Zikrullah Hassan, disclosed this, attributing the increase to inflation in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The increase is over N300,000 compared to what was paid during the 2022 hajj.
Hassan said, “Hajj fare has eight different costs; pilgrims from Maiduguri and Yola will pay N2.89m, other northern states N2.919m. The southern part of the country has six different prices, Edo State and the other states in the South South and South East will pay N2.96m while Ekiti and Ondo states will pay N2.88m. Osun State will pay N2.99m. Cross River to pay N2.943m and Lagos, Ogun and Oyo to pay N2.99m.”
He said the disparity in the price was because states in the North are closer to Saudi Arabia than the states in the south and accommodation secured by each state also determines the amount they would pay.
He said the airlines approved for airlift of pilgrims from states are Air Peace, Azman Air, Fly Nas, Aero Contractors and Max Air.

Arik Air and Value jet had been approved as chartered aircraft for private tour operators, he added.
The NAHCON chairman said the commission would close the portal for those who choose hajj saving schemes by April 21.
“We decided to do this to ensure that all operation activities are not dragged and May 21 will be the inaugural flight. We are committed to take every single citizen that registered for hajj this year.”
He said, “The reason for the increase is due to inflation rate in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, high cost of goods and services in Saudi Arabia and scarcity of aviation fuel.

“Also, there has been an increase in the exchange of naira to dollar at the official rate; we tried to keep the fare at a minimum level while taking a view of the economic condition of the people going for hajj.”
He added that the rise in the fare was not limited to Nigeria alone as other countries who had declared their hajj fare announced increase.

He promised that there would not be any obstacles during the process, stressing that no delay in ferrying pilgrims to the holy land would be tolerated.

Nigerian pilgrims to pay near N3m each for 2023 hajj