Hajj 2027: NAHCON Cuts Fare as Aviation Costs Bite
Southern pilgrims to pay ₦7.88m as Commission leans on early bookings and Saudi negotiations to contain costs
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has set the 2027 Hajj fare below the revised cost for the 2026 pilgrimage, offering Nigerian pilgrims a modest reduction despite rising aviation and operational expenses.
Pilgrims travelling from the Southern Zone will pay ₦7,882,822 for the 2027 Hajj, compared with the revised ₦7,991,141.76 fare approved for the same zone in 2026.
NAHCON also approved fares for pilgrims travelling from the Northern Zone, with the final amounts varying according to the designated departure zones.
The reduction comes as the Commission intensifies efforts to contain the cost of the pilgrimage through early planning, negotiations with service providers and advance arrangements for accommodation, feeding and other services in Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, had previously identified airfare as the most expensive component of the Hajj package, saying rising aviation fuel costs had contributed significantly to the pressure on pilgrimage fares.
He said the Commission was working with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to reduce the cost of Masha’ir services, including tents, transportation and accommodation in Mina and Arafat.
The Commission has also begun hotel and catering assessments in Makkah and Madinah earlier in the planning cycle, with the aim of securing competitive rates and avoiding the higher prices that can accompany late bookings.
The Commission has also stressed the importance of early registration and payment by intending pilgrims ahead of the September 29, 2026 deadline set by Saudi authorities.
The lower Southern Zone fare represents a reduction of about ₦108,320.76 from the revised 2026 figure.
The reduction is modest, but comes as international aviation, accommodation and other pilgrimage-related costs continue to put pressure on the price of Hajj.
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