NAHCON sets deadline for 2026 Hajj fare payment

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has fixed October 8, 2025, as the deadline for all State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies, Commissions, and licensed Hajj Tour Operators to remit Hajj fares ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage.

The Commission emphasized that the deadline is part of its early preparations to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated exercise.

It will be recalled that NAHCON had earlier announced a provisional fare of ₦8.5 million for intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj. The Commission noted that this figure is tentative and subject to adjustment after the conclusion of negotiations on various service contracts, including accommodation, feeding, and transportation in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement signed by NAHCON’s Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Fatima Usara, on Sunday, the Commission said the deadline is in line with the operational calendar released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which stipulates strict timelines for contracting and payment for services.

Usara explained that Saudi authorities set September 6th – 23rd, 2025, for early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps), while September 23rd–24th, 2025, was fixed for essential services such as transportation and accommodation.

According to the statement, the agency’s Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman, alongside Commissioners and the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Mustapha M. Ali, will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday, the 22nd of September, 2025, to finalise service agreements with relevant providers.

The spokesperson further added that the Saudi Ministry had also set October 12th, 2025, as the deadline for pilgrim registration and submission of data via the Nusuk platform.

“This trip is in conformity with the operational calendar released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU), which specifies that from 6th – 23rd September 2025 (15–29 Safar 1447H) is the period for early contracting and payment for Mashair (camps).

“The timeline similarly announced 23rd – 24th September 2025 (1–2 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1447H) as the deadline for contracting of essential services such as transportation and accommodation. Meanwhile, the MoHU had set 12th October 2025 (20 Rabi’ al-Thani 1447H) as the deadline for the pilgrims’ registration announcement and submission of pilgrims’ data for grouping via the Nusuk platform.

“Consequently, the Commission fixed 8th October 2025 as the deadline for States Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies, and Commissions, as well as licensed Hajj Tour Operators, to remit Hajj fares for the 2026 Hajj exercise,” the statement partly read.

NAHCON urged stakeholders to comply with the October 8th deadline, stressing that adherence is crucial for smooth arrangements and a successful pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims.