2024 Hajj: NAHCON announces N1.9m additional fare

Following the instability in foreign exchange, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has announced additional payment by the intending pilgrims for 2024 pilgrimage.

This was contained in a statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, on Sunday.

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Usara noted that the government’s policy focus of bringing down the exchange rate has given the Hajj fare reduction a boost.

She added that the good news now is that with the Naira appreciating to N1,474 to a Dollar over the preceding week and after due consultation with stakeholders, coupled with NAHCON’s desire to ensure equitable spread of the Federal Government’s intervention to all the already registered pilgrims whose payments have been received, necessitated the latest decision.

Following this, Usara confirmed that the Commission resolved that each pilgrim would now have to pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 in accordance with the current foreign exchange rate.

The statement reads in part: “Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj are by this release advised to proceed and pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 latest by 11:59pm of 28th March 2024.

“The Commission will shut down its system by 29th March and no other payment would be accommodated after.

“Affected pilgrims are advised to visit their respective state pilgrims boards to confirm their status.

“Below is a table detailing number of pilgrims that have paid the Hajj fare according to states and they remain the number expected to benefit from the intervention:

“However, any new registration for 2024 Hajj from today, 24th of March will attract the full sum of N8,225,464.74 from the Adamawa/Borno axis.

“From the North zone, fresh depositors will pay N8,254,464.74 whereas fresh payments from the Southern zone will attract N8,454,464.74 as Hajj fare.

“All categories are to pay within the same deadline.”

NAHCON said while it regrets the short notice, it has become inevitable due to Saudi Ministry of Hajj’s and Umrah’s stern warning to Nigeria regarding the delay in adhering to the Hajj arrangement framework.

Usara recalled that before now, NAHCON had pleaded for an extension, which had been reluctantly granted, and now the Ministry’s patience is wearing thin.

She said: “As for those who wish to withdraw their registration for the 2024 Hajj, they are advised to formally request for refund from their states which will be treated with all seriousness.

“The next four days are crucial for stakeholders, especially those willing to intervene in support of their pilgrims, to take necessary actions and ensure smooth Hajj arrangements.

“NAHCON remains committed to facilitating the pilgrimage experience for Nigerian Muslims and seeks cooperation from all parties involved.”

The Commission recalled that as at December 31 2023, Naira was still at N897 to a Dollar in the banks.

The shifts unfortunately pushed the Hajj fare collection deadline to fall after harmonisation of foreign exchange rates, presenting a new and significant challenge.

The Eagle Online reports that what the harmonisation meant in the Hajj fare equation was that in the face of global financial challenges, coupled with the new forex policy, Nigerian pilgrims would now be saddled with an unexpected increase in Hajj cost, despite having already paid the fixed fare of about N4.9 million, depending on the departure zone as approved by government.

NAHCON said the Federal Government saw wisdom in deliberately intervening on behalf of the Nigerian intending pilgrims through various strategies, including persuading cost reductions.

It added: “Unfortunately, the interventions could not cover the entire number that had met the final registration deadline.

“This had remained the Commission’s dilemma.

“To make matters worse, now about 50,000 pilgrims under the Public Quota have paid the hitherto announced fare of about N4.9 million and their payments are currently under the custody of the Commission.”