The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reduced the cost of the 2026 Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims and urged all intending pilgrims to pay early to meet Saudi Arabia’s timelines.

New fares by zone

• Maiduguri/Yola Zone: ₦7,579,020.96 (down from ₦8,118,033.67)
• Northern Zone: ₦7,696,769.76 (down from ₦8,244,813.67)
• Southern Zone: ₦7,991,141.76 (down from ₦8,561,013.67)

According to NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Usara, the revised fares were computed at an exchange rate of ₦1,443/$. The cuts translate to savings of roughly ₦539,013 (Maiduguri/Yola), ₦548,043.91 (Northern), and ₦569,871.91 (Southern) for each pilgrim.

Pay by December 5

NAHCON is asking pilgrims to complete their remittances by December 5. This allows time for funds to clear into NAHCON’s IBAN account before Saudi Arabia’s December 21 deadline for paying basic-services contracts. Bank transfers into IBAN accounts can take one to two weeks to reflect, so early payment is essential.

First-come, first-served slots

NAHCON also disclosed that state slot allocations have been adjusted to a first-come, first-served basis. States that remit fares earlier will secure slots first for their registered pilgrims. The Forum of States chairman, Idris Almakura, urged officials to wrap up their tasks in Saudi Arabia quickly and return to mobilise pilgrims and complete registrations without delay.