Nigerian pilgrims may have to pay more to perform Hajj in the coming years as Saudi Arabia moves to scrap a cheaper service package currently relied upon by many low-income pilgrims.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said the planned reform by the Saudi authorities could significantly affect the cost of Hajj for Nigerians.
The commission’s Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, disclosed this during a media briefing on Monday, explaining that Saudi Arabia intends to phase out the Grade D package, which has provided a lower-cost option for pilgrims.
The development is coming after NAHCON announced approved fares of between N7.56 million and N7.88 million for the 2027 Hajj, depending on the pilgrims’ departure zone.
Yusuf said the Saudi reform, originally expected to begin this year, had been delayed for about three years following diplomatic engagements by the Nigerian commission.
Under the proposed changes, Hajj operations are expected to become more professional, with greater involvement of licensed tour operators and reduced government participation.
Yusuf said the Saudi authorities plan to train and certify Hajj administrators in areas including logistics, medical services, disaster management and crowd control.
He explained that the changes could particularly affect Nigerian pilgrims because a large proportion of those travelling for Hajj are people who save for years to afford the pilgrimage.
He said about 80 to 90 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims fall within the category of people who depend on the cheaper Grade D arrangement.
According to him, the Saudi authorities believe pilgrims should receive a higher standard of service and are therefore moving to eliminate the package.
He added that under the new system, Hajj administration would no longer be handled by ad-hoc personnel, as administrators would be required to undergo specialised training and obtain certification.
Yusuf said the commission would continue to protect the interests and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims despite the reforms.
He disclosed that NAHCON was also working with state pilgrims’ welfare boards to restructure their operations into a tour-operator model in readiness for the changes.
The development could have significant implications for Nigerian pilgrims, particularly those already struggling with the rising cost of the annual pilgrimage.
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