Fatima Sanda Usara, the spokesperson for NAHCON, stated that for the 2025 Hajj, "There will be no concessionary exchange rate from the government for Hajj fare payment for pilgrims, whether under state or private Hajj operators." 

As a result, if the naira maintains its current exchange rate of N1,650 to a dollar, each intending pilgrim could face a cost of nearly N10 million, as the minimum fare is approximately $6,000.

While NAHCON has yet to announce the official Hajj fare for 2025, various States Pilgrims Welfare Boards have begun requesting an initial deposit of N8.5 million from intending pilgrims, pending the fare announcement. 

Additionally, NAHCON has confirmed that each Nigerian pilgrim who participated in the 2023 Hajj will receive a refund of 64,682 Saudi Riyal (approximately 150 SAR). 

These updates were shared during an interactive meeting between NAHCON and members of Private Tour Operators in Nigeria (PTOs) on October 7, 2024. This meeting aimed to inform members about resolutions made after the resumption of office by the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Sale Pakistan, who had been absent for a brief period.

Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, chaired the virtual meeting, discussing new developments from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU) as well as NAHCON's decisions stemming from the second Executive Council meeting with the new head of the Commission.

Elegushi noted that Saudi Arabia has further reduced the number of PTOs allowed to operate from 20 to 10, with each company required to register a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to be eligible for Hajj visa approval.

Regarding the 2022 refunds, the commission is still awaiting additional details, but information has emerged concerning refunds for PTOs that camped at Field Office 18 in 2022. These PTOs are expected to collectively receive SR62,602 (approximately N26,993,224) due to poor feeding in the Masha’ir.