A media support group has commended the Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, for his efficient management of the 2025 Hajj fare, noting the projections were much higher than what has been announced by the Commission.
The group, Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team, in a statement issued by their National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta, said the roles played by the NAHCON boss and his team prevented a significant hike to the upcoming hajj fare.
The media group also acknowledged Vice President Kashim Shettima for his support to the NAHCON leadership, saying that it contributed to the efficient management of the 2025 Hajj fare.
Muslim News had earlier reported the announcement of NAHCON on the 2025 Hajj fares, which pegged Adamawa/Borno Zone at N8,327,125.59; Northern Zone at N8,457,685.59; and Southern Zone at N8,784,085.59.
The National Hajj Media Support Team said many intending pilgrims had thought the fare will hit N10 million with the current naira to dollar exchange rate.
“It could be recalled that, for the past two weeks now, Prof. Abdullahi Pakistan, has been in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with his down-to-earth team, that comprises of key stakeholders in the Hajj industry, trying to fine-tune ways and avenues to make 2025 Hajj exercise much more successful, rewarding and cost-effective than the previous Hajj operations without significant hike in the hajj fare compared to that of 2024, which recorded the highest fare increase ever in the history of hajj operation in Nigeria,” the statement of read.
“Indeed, before the announcement of the 2025 hajj fare of recent, majority of Nigerians, particularly those with the intention to partake in this year’s spiritual journey of pilgrimage, were of the belief and conviction that, given the current exchange rate of the Naira to Dollar and vice versa, the Hajj fare would most likely be up to Ten Million Naira or even higher.
“But praise be to Allah, that projection has now been proved wrong courtesy of the foresight and proactive measures swiftly taken by the NAHCON’s Chairman and his team, by engaging in constant dialogue and bargaining with various service providers such as accommodation, airline carriers and so forth, which yielded positive outcome by stemming the hajj fare to its current level of less than N9 million as against the projected N10 million by many citizens.”
The group meanwhile pleaded with the Federal Government to consider subvention for intending pilgrims.
It said, “However, the Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team wishes to join other well-meaning Nigerians to plead with the government at the centre, to consider extending a helping hand to this year’s intending pilgrims by granting subvention to further reduce the hajj cost in order to avail more Nigerian Muslims the opportunity to embark on the lifetime dream journey!”
