By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO — In a development that has ignited renewed hope among thousands of intending pilgrims, the Chairman of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA), Alhaji Ali Musa Sokoto, has Monday hailed the Federal Government’s decision to reduce the 2026 Hajj fare, describing it as a lifeline for ordinary Nigerians struggling under economic pressure.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Chairman represented by the Agency’s Director of Administration, Ibrahim Ladan Sokoto said the decision is not just a policy adjustment but a major act of compassion by the Federal Government toward millions of Muslim faithful who dream of performing the sacred pilgrimage.

He emphasized that the reduction is particularly significant for intending pilgrims from Sokoto and other North-Western states, where the economic challenges have hit households hard. He stressed that the slashed fare “brings Hajj closer to the reach of families who have been praying and saving for years.”

Under the new structure, intending pilgrims from the North-West will now pay ₦7.6 million a sharp drop from the previous announcement of ₦8,457,685, which many had already feared would be unaffordable.

Similarly, pilgrims travelling from Adamawa and Borno states will pay ₦7.5 million, replacing the earlier figure of ₦8.3 million, offering an additional ray of hope to communities deeply affected by insecurity and economic disruptions.

The Chairman recalled that the revised fare is in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the announcement by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, who confirmed that the President instructed a downward review to ease the burden on intending pilgrims.

In the updated breakdown, the Borno–Adamawa zone has now been pegged at ₦7,579,020, compared to the earlier ₦8,327,125 — a difference that could determine whether many families proceed or postpone their lifelong journey.

For pilgrims from the North-West including Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, the new fare is now ₦7,669,769, representing one of the biggest cuts in the national review.

Even in the Southern states, where logistics and travel distance usually attract higher charges, the new approved fare has been reduced to ₦7,991,141, down from ₦8,784,085.

Alhaji Ali Musa Sokoto described the adjustment as “a human-centered decision that touches the lives of the common man” and urged intending pilgrims across the state to seize the opportunity and complete their payments promptly.

He further disclosed NAHCON’s directive that December 5th remains the final deadline for all intending pilgrims to finalize their payment, stressing that there will be no extension due to operational preparations in Saudi Arabia.

The Sokoto PWA Chairman assured the public that transparency remains the hallmark of the Agency, affirming that any intending pilgrim who has already paid above the approved fare will be refunded in full.

He urged community leaders, religious clerics, and families to help disseminate the information so no intending pilgrim misses the opportunity due to misinformation or delay.

He also appealed for patience and cooperation, reaffirming that the Agency remains committed to ensuring a smooth, credible, and well-coordinated Hajj operation for 2026.

The Chairman concluded by expressing gratitude to President Tinubu, NAHCON leadership, and all stakeholders whose interventions made the fare reduction possible, describing the decision as “a relief that brings spiritual dreams closer to reality for thousands of Nigerian Muslims.”