The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced an increase in the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
According to NAHCON the increase is due to problems with money exchange rates, which have been causing difficulties for Nigeria.
Initially, the cost was set at N4.9 million, but now it’s been raised to N6.8 million. This means people who already paid the first amount now need to pay an extra N1.9 million.
NAHCON explained that they had to make these changes because of delays in getting the money from those who needed to pay for the pilgrimage.
This delay meant they had to adjust the deadlines, which led to the fare increase. The exchange rate for money changed unexpectedly, which also contributed to the higher cost.
Despite these challenges, NAHCON is asking for understanding and support from everyone involved.
They’ve asked state governments and wealthy individuals to help out their pilgrims. The Federal Government has already stepped in to assist, which has helped reduce the fare a bit.
Now, with the exchange rate improving slightly and after talking with different groups involved, NAHCON has set a new balance for pilgrims to pay.
Each person will need to pay an additional N1,918,032.91 by March 28th, 2024. After that, the system for payments will close, and no more payments will be accepted.
People who want to go on the pilgrimage this year are advised to check with their state pilgrims boards to confirm their status and make the necessary payments.
