•Ndume urges government to subsidise fees for first timers
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
Kano State Government has paid the sum of N1,453,000,000 subsidy for the 2,906 intending pilgrims of the state, as part of its effort to alleviate their financial burden following the increase of the Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Speaking at a press conference, the Director General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa, said the subsidy was meant for those, who have already registered and paid the initial deposit to the Board.
He said the state government paid the sum of N500,000 for each of the 2,906 intending pilgrims, which means the intending pilgrims, who had already paid N4.9 million initial fare, were to pay N1.4 million balance.
Danbappa added that the Kano State Government decided concerning the recent increase of the Hajj fares by NAHCON due to instability in foreign exchange as the main reason.
According to him, the governor’s gesture came after considering the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians, which made it difficult for the Kano intending pilgrims to balance the increased N1.9 million.
“We consider the current economic hardship people are facing and the increase of Hajj Fares is a great challenge to many intending pilgrims, that is why we have come up with this intervention to support our prospective pilgrims,” he said.
He, however, urged all intending pilgrims to ensure payment of the remaining N1.4 million balance before tomorrow, March 28 as directed by NAHCON.
The DG also called on NAHCON to ask for a deadline extension from Saudi Arabia to enable intending pilgrims to pay their Hajj fare balance on time.
Meanwhile, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, yesterday, decried the arbitrary increase in the rate for the 2024 Hajj by NAHCON.
He described it as unfair and a deliberate plan to deny Nigerian Muslims, especially first-timers the opportunity to participate in the exercise.
NAHCON had on Sunday, announced the new rate adjustment contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the commission, Fatima Sanda-Usara.
Explaining the reason for the hike, the commission stated that the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar made it imperative to make the adjustment.
Ndume, in a statement, said pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees could not be compelled to cough out almost N2 million, barely one week to the end of the registration.
The senator, who listed the five pillars of Islam to include, Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, said, the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime.
He called on President Bola Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers attend this year’s Hajj to the Holy Land.
He also called on the respective State Governments to foot the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new fee set by NAHCON.
