The chairman of Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Aliyu Musa, has commended President Bola Tinubu on his effort that ensured the reduction of hajj fare for the 2026 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Musa made the commendation in an interview on Monday in Sokoto.

Mr Musa urged intending pilgrims to hasten payment before the December 5, 2025, deadline. He said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria had announced a substantial downward review of the hajj fare for the 2026 pilgrimage.

According to him, the revised cost for the North, which currently includes Sokoto, is N7,696,769.76, compared to the previous amount of N8,244,813.67.

The chairman said the reduction was based on the president’s efforts and urged intending pilgrims who had made deposits to complete the payment, while new pilgrims were asked to use the window to pay before the deadline.

Mr Musa reminded people that the consideration of first-come, first-served for hajj fare remittance was prioritised to ensure transparency. He explained that the agency had made arrangements to conduct a meeting with local government desk officers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to facilitate more awareness of the new development.

The chairman restated that prospective pilgrims should ensure they obtain receipts for all deposits made through desk officers or banks. He stressed that all cash payments, payments made through proxies, or third-party payments were prohibited, and every transaction is being conducted online to ensure transparency in all dealings.

He stated that, considering the time constraints and Saudi Arabia’s payment framework, intending pilgrims are advised to complete their Hajj fare remittances before December 5.

He commended Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his support of the agency, which facilitated improvements and successes, and urged stakeholders to support the agency in order to achieve the desired results.

(NAN)