The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has stated that individuals who signed up for the 2024 Hajj before the earlier deadline of February 12 will now need to provide a further N1.9m, according to the current exchange rate.
NAHCON has encouraged pilgrims to settle the remaining amount before March 29, 2024, when the commission will close its systems and stop accepting payments.
A notice named “NAHCON releases new developments on 2024 Hajj” and signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, on Sunday, contains this information.
The commission had previously set minimum fare prices at N4.5m in October 2023 but in February, they revised the Hajj fare prices to N4,699,000 for Northern pilgrims; N4,899,000 for Southern pilgrims and N4,679,000 for pilgrims from Adamawa State. The updated prices were announced following earlier discussions.
In her statement, Usara explained that delayed and non-remittances of fares pushed the commission past the deadline given by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. She also mentioned that the government had made a request for cost reductions.
However, this intervention did not cover pilgrims who had already paid the initial fare, leading to appeals for support from state governments and individuals, reducing the balance to the N1.9 million.
“The positive news is that with the naira appreciating to N1,474.00 to a dollar over the previous week and after consulting with stakeholders, NAHCON resolved that each pilgrim would now have to pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 in accordance with the current foreign exchange rate. This is to ensure equitable distribution of the Federal Government’s intervention to all registered pilgrims who have made their payments,
The statement advised intending pilgrims who still wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj to proceed and pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 by 11:59 pm of 28th March 2024. The commission would close its system by 29th March and no other payment would be accommodated after this.
However, individuals registering for the first time will now have to pay a total sum of no less than N8m for the Hajj exercise.
“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,
Pilgrims who wish to withdraw their funds have also been advised to formally request from their States’ Pilgrim Boards, while stakeholders willing to intervene on behalf of their pilgrims have been urged to do so within the next four days.
