2017 Hajj: NAHCON approves fares for 23 states

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has approved 2017 Hajj fare packages for 23 States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SMPWB), FCT and the Armed Forces.

A statement from the commission yesterday said the approvals were granted after due diligence and that those states having the approvals, should go on with all necessary arrangements for the Hajj exercise and also abide strictly by the approved rates.

Daily Trust had reported six of the states, which announcements were made at the ongoing SMPWB meeting at NAHCON headquarters in Abuja.

The states which fares were approved at the meeting which started last Thursday at the time of going to the press are Nasarawa N1,544,894.16; Niger N1,525,483.30; Kaduna N1,535,503.68; Kano N1,537,859.97; Adamawa N1,530,101.18; Yobe N1,520,101.18; FCT N1,538,218.62; Bauchi N1,523,122.41; Plateau N1,529,036.80; and Zamfara N1,510,461.65.

Others are Sokoto N1, 524,618.90; Gombe N1, 516,118.90; Benue N1, 522,118.90; Kebbi N1, 534,659.85; Taraba N1,521,138.21; Osun N1,548,153.42; Armed Forces N1,538,379.22; Ogun N1,561,943.97; Anambra N1,511,173.77; Kwara N1,501,571.27; Ekiti N1,525,191.27; Edo N1,551,331.87; and Oyo N1,584,069.02.

Fifteen other states’ fares are expected to be approved and announced.

They are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Ondo and Rivers states.

The packages however include $800 general Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), which has been built into the Hajj fare at flat rate across board.

Daily Trust reports that the packages excluded hadaya (sacrificial ram) fee which has been fixed at N38, 000 for this year’s exercise.

The 2016 hajj fares were northern departure zones with minimum fare N998, 248.92 (with $750 Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), medium fare N1, 047, 498.92 (with $1,000 BTA), and maximum fare N1, 145, 998.92 (with $1,500 BTA).

While the southern zones minimum fare N1, 008, 197.42 (with $750 BTA), medium fare (with $1,000 BTA) N1, 057, 447.42 while the maximum fare N1, 155, 947.42 (with $1,500 BTA).