2025 Hajj Costs Surge as NAHCON Withdraws Subsidy
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that starting in 2025, the federal government will no longer provide a subsidy for Hajj payments.
This subsidy, previously provided in the form of a concessionary exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria, allowed pilgrims to access dollars at a lower rate.
Without this subsidy, and with the current exchange rate of ₦1,650 per dollar, the cost for each pilgrim is expected to rise to nearly ₦10 million.
NAHCON has yet to officially confirm the 2025 Hajj fare, but many state Pilgrims Welfare Boards are already asking prospective pilgrims to make initial deposits of ₦8.5 million in preparation for the increased costs.
This significant increase has raised concerns among many about the affordability of the pilgrimage.