Intending pilgrims can heave a sigh of relief as both the federal and some state governments like Kano, Kebbi and Kogi have provided subsidies to offset the balance of funds for the exercise.
₦90 billion has been released by the Federal Government to subsidise the 2024 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, per reports.
NAHCON had in December 2023 fixed a minimum fare of ₦4.9 million per pilgrim, based on the exchange rate of ₦897 to a dollar as at the period with the sum of ₦4,899,000 quoted for southern pilgrims; ₦4,699,000 for those from the North; while pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri centres were asked to pay ₦4,679,000.
However, through its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, the hajj commission announced a raise in the fare by ₦1,918,032.91, jacking up the total amount to ₦6.8 million a week ago. The deadline was March 28, 2024 (Yesterday).
Speaking, a NAHCON official said, “The forex crisis has caused a lot of problems. That is why the hajj commission has asked intending pilgrims to pay the extra amount of ₦1.9 million each. The commission actually needed ₦230 billion to sort out the fare differential caused by the forex crisis.
“The promise for support which was provided by the government was announced in the presence of reporters during the inauguration of the board and management of the hajj commission, which was held at the Office of the Vice President on February 28, 2024.”
“By the previous calculation, the ₦90 billion given by the federal government can only subsidise 19,000 intending pilgrims by ₦3.5 million. But by spreading it on 50,000 pilgrims, it reduces it to ₦1.9 million; meaning that the federal government has subsidised each pilgrim by ₦1.6 million before each intending pilgrim was asked to add the remaining ₦1.9 million,” the source further explained.
Confirming the development, a source at the Presidency told one of Nigeria’s National Dailies, Daily Trust that it was true that the federal government had provided a “huge financial support” to make this year’s hajj exercise possible for some citizens.
“Of course, the federal government has offered support for the pilgrims because the pilgrims have been lamenting.
“Normally, any support that the government is giving to any faith, whether the Christian faith or the Muslim faith, the government does not like to announce it openly so that it will not appear as if the government is favouring one faith,” he added.
As learnt, Kebbi State government has paid the additional ₦1.9m increase in hajj fare for the over 4,875 pilgrims who are expected to depart the state for this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Also, the Kogi State government has paid over ₦800 million via its contribution in the Hajj Savings Scheme organised by NAHCON to pave the way for 460 intending pilgrims from the state to perform the 2024 holy pilgrimage to Makkah.
Kano, on their own part has approved a subsidy of ₦500,000 for each of the intending pilgrims from the state while Osun has pledged to assist pilgrims from the state.
“The way God has been assisting us, it is the same way that we will assist them,” said Governor Ademola Adeleke.
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