A civil society organisation, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to abolish the 2% service charge imposed on Hajj fare payments made by Nigerian pilgrims, describing it as a significant contributor to the rising cost of the annual pilgrimage
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, IHR said the fee equivalent to about $90 or N144,000 per pilgrim based on the current exchange rate of N1,600 to the dollar placed an additional financial burden on intending pilgrims.
With Nigeria’s Hajj quota set at 95,000 pilgrims by Saudi Arabia, the CBN stands to generate approximately $8.55 million (N13.68 billion) annually from the charges, the group noted.
“The CBN should abolish the revenue it collects simply for transferring Hajj payments to NAHCON’s IBAN account in Saudi Arabia,” the statement read, referencing the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
While acknowledging the legality of the charges, the group appealed to the apex bank to consider waiving them as a form of support to reduce the financial pressure on pilgrims.
“Nigerian pilgrims are already paying multiple service charges to various government establishments, which has significantly increased the overall Hajj fare. The CBN can support efforts to make Hajj more affordable by scrapping this fee,” IHR added.
The organisation also commended NAHCON’s self-funding efforts since 2019, saying such financial independence should be supported by other government institutions to enhance service delivery to pilgrims.
The call by IHR added to a growing number of voices from Hajj stakeholders urging the CBN to reconsider its service charge policy in the interest of affordability and accessibility for Muslim pilgrims across the country.
