The Federal Government is projected to earn about N5.4bn from Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj through a compulsory service charge, a new report has revealed.
The estimate was released by the Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation that monitors transparency in Hajj operations.
The group made the disclosure in a statement issued by its National Coordinator and made available to journalists over the weekend.
According to the report, the approved 2026 Hajj fare requires every intending pilgrim to pay a two per cent service charge directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The organisation explained that with the official Hajj fare fixed at about N7.6m per pilgrim, the levy translates to approximately N136,417 for each participant.
“With the official Hajj fare set at roughly N7.6 million per person, the mandatory levy translates to about N136,417 per pilgrim,” the group stated.
Based on Nigeria’s allocation of 40,000 pilgrims for the exercise, the IHR estimated that the total amount accruing to the CBN would range between N5.3bn and N5.4bn.
The group added that, in dollar terms, each pilgrim would pay $92.46, bringing the total sum to about $3.7m. It noted that the charge represents an increase from the $90 paid by pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj.
“Based on an allocation of 40,000 pilgrims to the various states, the total revenue accruing to the CBN is estimated to reach between N5.3bn and N5.4bn,” the statement read.
It further said, “In U.S. currency, the charge amounts to $92.46 per person, totalling approximately $3.7m. This figure marks an increase from the $90 fee charged during the 2025 Hajj season.”
The organisation explained that the service charge is largely associated with the transfer of funds to the foreign bank account of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.
