NAHCON sets December 31 deadline for 2026 Hajj fare payments

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has fixed December 31, 2025, as the final deadline for the payment of fares for the 2026 Hajj exercise.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, announced the deadline during a press conference in Kano on Friday, shortly after returning from a working visit to Saudi Arabia.

According to him, the early deadline is part of efforts to ensure proper planning, smooth logistics, and timely arrangements with Saudi authorities ahead of the pilgrimage.

“The deadlines now stand as pillars of our preparations, meaning that by 8th October 2025, States are to remit 50% fare deposits to the Commission in order to maintain their allocations.

“Accordingly, by 31st December 2025, every pilgrim must have completed payment for his 2026 Hajj fares. These deadlines are not just administrative, but to guarantee early camp booking, stronger contracts, and provision of efficient services,” he added.

He said he departed Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on the 22nd of September 2025, and had carried with him “one mission, that is to defend the Nigerian pilgrims, to secure for them cost efficient services and to prepare the ground for a better 2026 Hajj.”

“Our task was negotiation, planning and securing the best services for Nigerian intending pilgrims. Today, I stand before you not with promises, but results.

“We achieved meaningful reliefs for pilgrims.Through determined engagements with State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards Executives and our Saudi partners, NAHCON has secured more than #200,000 service cost reduction per pilgrim With 66910 slots allocated to Nigeria, this equals to more than 19 billion cost relief secured,” the chairman said.

He said the feat aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that Nigerian Pilgrims are getting these great reliefs.

Prof.Usman said the commission had strengthened 2026 Hajj foundation by achieving the signing of Masha’ir Services contracts with Mashariq Dhahabiyya company, as well as Transport services with Daleel Al-Ma’aleem company.

“We also concluded contracts for Madinah accommodation and feeding, ensuring that quality accommodation are secured in Markaziyya at best rates possible. And also interacted with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with honest assessment and firm recommendations from the lessons of 2025 Hajj,” he said.

He also disclosed that the commission had inaugurated the 2026 Hajj Tour Operators Screening Committee to screen and ensure that only those who meet the requirements would serve Nigerian pilgrims, adding that, “the days of shortcuts and cutting corners are over.”

The chairman said the commission had commenced intensive training of its staff to prepare them for successive Hajj operations.

“You are aware that 2026 Hajj fares were announced early enough this year, that reflects fairness, and not excess with a view to allowing intending pilgrims to pay on time, with Maiduguri/Yola – N8,118,333.67, Northern states – N8,244,813.67 and Southern states – N8,561,013.67,” he said.

He noted that the success of Hajj 2026 “cannot be improvised, it must be built early, with discipline, confidence, foresight and courage. That is why we engaged, negotiated, and acted ahead of time.”