**By Jabiru Hassan**
The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organization monitoring Hajj operations, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to abolish the 2% service charge imposed on payments made by intending Nigerian pilgrims.
According to IHR, the charge—which translates to **$90 (about ₦144,000)** per pilgrim based on the **₦1,600/$ exchange rate** used by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)—has significantly contributed to the high cost of Hajj.
Saudi Arabia allocates **95,000 Hajj slots** to Nigeria annually. If the quota is fully utilized, the CBN stands to generate roughly **$8.55 million (₦13.68 billion)** in revenue from these transactions alone.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, **Ibrahim Mohammed**, and issued on Sunday, IHR said:
> “Following public outcry over the high cost of Hajj, the CBN should abolish the revenue it collects simply for transferring Hajj payments to NAHCON’s IBAN account in Saudi Arabia.”
The group clarified that while the charges may not be illegal, they could be **waived as part of the apex bank’s contribution** to easing the financial burden on intending pilgrims.
> “Nigerian pilgrims already pay multiple service charges to various government establishments, which has pushed up the overall cost of the pilgrimage,” the statement added.
IHR further noted that since **2019**, NAHCON has **funded its own operations** through internally generated revenue, relieving the Federal Government of the cost of Hajj administration. It called on other government institutions, including the CBN, to support this self-sustaining model by scrapping unnecessary levies.
The appeal by IHR aligns with similar calls from Hajj stakeholders and Islamic organizations urging the Central Bank to review or waive the contentious 2% service fee in the interest of fairness and affordability for Nigerian pilgrims.
