The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has explained why it set different Hajj fares for the various states of the federation. Deputy Director of Information and Publication, Mousa Ubandawaki, made the clarification in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. He noted that for more than two months the commission had been working to keep the fare affordable for average Nigerian Muslims, despite the global economic crisis, rising inflation, and the depreciation of the naira against the dollar.
Ubandawaki said that after NAHCON boss Zikrullah Hassan announced the final Hajj fare for Nigerian pilgrims, a limited number of people questioned why pilgrims from different states would pay different amounts. He thanked the commission for managing to keep the price below N3 million despite these challenges. At the start of airline screening for this year’s Hajj, the commission, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, learned that air‑travel tickets—including chartered flights used by Hajj carriers—are influenced by the nautical miles the aircraft must cover. Consequently, tickets from Maiduguri and Yola are much cheaper than those from other northern states and southern Nigeria because of their closer proximity to Saudi Arabia. Pilgrims departing from those two airports spend less than four hours traveling to Saudi Arabia, whereas those from other regions spend five hours or more.
Another factor affecting the fare is the cost and location of accommodation in Makkah. Some states’ pilgrims’ welfare boards, which have larger contingents, require more expansive housing, while others need less. In sourcing accommodation, each state subscribed to facilities that matched its needs and capacity. Under the NAHCON Act and policy, the commission’s role as regulator is to ensure that states comply with the benchmark and that the standard of accommodation is commensurate with the fare charged.
Ubandawaki also pointed out that local charges—such as administrative fees, uniforms, and registration fees—vary from state to state, contributing to the fare differences. Acknowledging the sacrifice made by prospective pilgrims to fulfill their religious obligation, he promised that the commission will continue to work to ensure pilgrims receive value for money.
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