.Ndume rejects hike, seeks subsidy

Kano State Government has approved N1.4 billion subsidy for intending pilgrims from the state to mitigate the sudden increase in 2024 Hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

This was as Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ndume, rejected the increase and proposed subsidy for pilgrims.

Director-General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB), Rabiu Dan’bappa, who disclosed the intervention, said government considered the concessional cost to ease the challenge of many intending pilgrims, who may find it difficult to meet the deadline.

According to Dan’bappa, the government is subsidising each pilgrim’s fare with N500,000 of the N1.9 million new fare increase. By implication, Kano pilgrims are expected to pay about N1.4 million as full and final fare.

NAHCON, a few days ago, announced a fare increase of N1.9 million following the spike in the exchange rate. It said Nigerian pilgrims were being saddled with unexpected increases in Hajj costs, despite paying the fixed fare of N4.9 million.

The commission, through its spokesperson, Fatima Sanda-Usara, said each pilgrim would have to pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 under the new foreign exchange rate.

“Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj are, by this release, advised to proceed and pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 latest by 11.59 pm of March 28, 2024,” NAHCON stated.

The DG reminded the pilgrims that the subsidy was only applicable to 2,906 intending pilgrims registered with the board, adding that those outside the threshold would need to comply with the official rate released by NAHCON.

He appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on Saudi Arabian authorities to extend the payment deadline to enable more interested participants to complete their deposits.

Ndume, however, described the increase as unfair and a deliberate plan to deny Nigerian Muslims, especially first-timers, the opportunity to participate in the exercise.

Explaining the reason for the hike, the commission stated that the N1,474 to a dollar exchange made it imperative to adjust.

According to the statement, about 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota had earlier paid N4.9 million to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.

Pilgrims, who had earlier paid the old fee of N4.9 million, have been told to pay an additional N1.9 million before the March 28 deadline, while new registration has been fixed at N8.5 million.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Ndume said pilgrims, who had earlier paid the old fees could not be compelled to cough out almost N2 million, towards the end of the registration.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy, to enable first-timers to attend this year’s Hajj.