NAHCON Announces ₦8.5 Million Tentative Hajj Fare for 2026, Holds Post-Hajj Review Meeting*

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a tentative deposit of ₦8.5 million as the provisional fare for the 2026 Hajj. This was revealed during a strategic post-Hajj 2025 review meeting held today at the Hajj House headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting brought together Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to assess the recently concluded Hajj and begin early preparations for the 2026 pilgrimage.

In his opening remarks, NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support, particularly in enabling pilgrims to pay in Naira and for the suspension of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) credit card-only policy for Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), which could have disadvantaged many pilgrims.

Professor Usman confirmed that Nigeria has retained its full Hajj allocation of 95,000 slots from Saudi Arabia, with state allocations remaining unchanged.

The Chairman of the Forum of States’ Executive Secretaries, Alhaji Idris Almakura, called for strengthened collaboration between NAHCON and state boards, urging improved communication and prompt resolution of outstanding issues.

The meeting ended with commitments from participants to consult further and provide feedback on unresolved matters. Secretary to the Commission, Dr Mustapha Ali, thanked attendees for their contributions and adjourned the session.

BREAKING: Ghana’s defence, environment ministers killed in helicopter crash

A helicopter crash has killed 8 people including the nation’s defence and environment ministers, according to Ghana’s government.

Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among the victims of the crash in the southern Ashanti region of the country, said Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, on Wednesday.

“The president and the government extend their condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,” said Debrah.

Also among the victims were Alhaji Muniru Muhammad, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister of Agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of President Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

The Ghanaian Air Force had reported earlier Wednesday that a military helicopter had disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Accra at around 09:00 (local time and GMT), bound for Obuasi, north-west of the capital.

Debrah announced that flags would be flown at half-mast.

The Presidency said that Mahama had suspended all his official activities for the day.

SHARE