NAHCON explains N90b hajj fund expenses

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has explained how the quick intervention of Federal Government was spent on challenges that almost crippled participation of Nigerians in 2024 Hajj exercise.

President Bola Tinubu had released N90 billion to mitigate the spike in the exchange rate of naira to dollar following the floating of naira that heightened hajj fare at the early state of preparation.

Recall that Nigerian pilgrims were issued four days ultimatum to settle an additional N1.9 million to add up the N4.6 million initial deposits as total hajj fare for the just concluded exercise.

Addressing a world press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Commission, Ahmad Jalal Arabi, explained that 2024 exercise was a huge success despite unforeseen hiccups that were later surmounted.

Arabi disclosed the initial predicament the commission had to contend with was the late remittance of deposit and subsequent pressure from stakeholders, including state governors and prominent individuals.

The NAHCON boss: “After successful inspection and negotiation of cost-of-service delivery for the intending pilgrims to 2024 Hajj, the Hajj fare was totaled to cost $5,692.25; a reduction from 2023 Hajj fare of $6,401.31 at the exchange rate of N456.00.”

The first challenge we encountered during the early stage was the slow remittance of Hajj fares by pilgrims.

“Recall that by the final deadline of 12th February 2024, the unforeseen spike in foreign exchange rates had totally complicated matters, necessitating fresh adjustment of the year’s Hajj fare from the initially announced N4.9 million.

“The financial projection after the foreign exchange liberalisation was that each pilgrim would have to top up about N3.6 million in addition to the initial payment. We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift approval of N90 billion instead.

Explaining how the commission disbursed the N90 billion, Arabi said each pilgrim was supported with N1,637,369.87 from the intervention, except for pilgrims under the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) and those from the private tours.