HAJJ 2025: NIGERIAN PILGRIMS TO RECEIVE $500 AS BASIC TRAVEL ALLOWANCE

Nigerian intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj in Saudi Arabia will receive a Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) of $500, matching the amount provided to last year’s pilgrims.

This was revealed by the Chairman and CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, during an interview with DCL Hausa.

The amount, equivalent to approximately N830,000, is based on the exchange rate as of Thursday, when the Naira closed at N1,660 to $1, according to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange, the official forex trading platform.

NAHCON had earlier announced Hajj fares for the 2025 pilgrimage. Pilgrims from the Adamawa/Borno zone, which includes Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, and Yobe states, are to pay N8,327,125.59. Those from the Northern zone, comprising 14 states, will pay N8,457,685.59, while pilgrims from the Southern states are required to pay N8,784,085.59.

The commission explained that the fares were determined through consultations with NAHCON, the Presidency, and state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards. Efforts were made to maintain the fare at similar levels as the previous year.

However, Prof. Usman hinted that the fare might be reduced if the government approves certain waivers the commission is currently seeking.

Responding to a question during the DCL Hausa interview, the chairman said, “The fare is the same as last year, which is $500 per pilgrim.”

Usman absolved NAHCON of any blame concerning the failure of most state pilgrims who performed the 2024 Hajj to receive their $500 BTA as announced.

He attributed this issue to the failure of state pilgrims’ boards, agencies, and commissions to deposit funds early for conversion by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The chairman explained that it was the responsibility of the states to distribute the BTA to their respective pilgrims, adding that NAHCON had released the BTA early to the states, but they failed to convert it into dollars.

He further noted that fluctuations in the exchange rate last year ultimately affected the payment of the BTA to the pilgrims.

According to him, “Sharing the BTA is actually the responsibility of the states, and the commission had sent the money to them early, but most of them delayed converting the Naira to dollars. Because of fluctuations in foreign exchange, many pilgrims could not receive the full $500.”