Prospective Muslim pilgrims from Nigeria might face a hefty Hajj fee of up to six million Naira in 2024, doubling the cost from the previous year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Alhaji Yahya Suleiman Nasidi, the National President of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), revealed this during the 2024 Hajj sensitization seminar in Kano.
The significant increase is attributed to the escalating US Dollar exchange rate. Nasidi urged the Federal Government and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to aid in depositing the 2024 Hajj Funds in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the urgent need for early payments due to the rising costs.
Addressing the challenges at the seminar titled “Hajj 2024 New Challenges, Boundless Opportunity,” Nasidi highlighted the absence of forex allocation from the government and the reliance on market forex, expressing concerns about possible obstacles in obtaining visas and traveling if payments are not made promptly. The forex issue remains a critical hurdle, requiring offshore payment solutions.
