FG bows to pressure, approves N90billion subsidy for Hajj fares – Report

The Nigerian Government has released N90billion as a subsidy for the payment of fare for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Hajj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Daily Trust reported on Friday that sources in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Presidency said the Federal Government provided the funds as subsidies for the pilgrimage.

The source said the government paid the subsidies since February but appealed people familiar with the development not to make it public.

“The N90 billion 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 Presidency on February 28, 2024,” the source quoted by Daily Trust said.

“But they (reporters) were asked not to report it. That was why no newspaper carried the report. Or did you see it in any reports?”

NAHCON increased the rate for the hajj citing foreign exchange rate adjustment.

About 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission are to pay an additional N1.9 million each on or before 28 March, while new registration has been fixed at N8.5 million, NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Sanda-Usara said in a statement.

Sanda-Usara said the exchange rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar made it imperative to adjust, causing a hike in the initial fee.

The NAHCON official noted that 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota paid N4.9 million to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.

Sanda-Usara stated that efforts of commission to maintain the existing fare have been futile, hence the decision to announce a new rate.

Senate chief whip Ali Ndume on Thursday urged the government to pay the extra cost for those interested in going for the pilgrimage.

Ndume said refusal to provide subsidies for the Hajj pilgrimage would be seen as a plot for deny Muslims their rights as Nigerian citizens.

Kano State governor Abba Yusuf on Wednesday announced a N500,000 subsidy for intending pilgrims to the hajj from the state.

READ ALSO: Kano governor announces N1.4billion subsidy for pilgrims

Yusuf said intending pilgrims from Kano who initially deposited their fees for pilgrimage to Mecca will pay N1.4 million as against the N1.9 million announced by NAHCON.

The source within the Presidency disclosed that NAHCON contacted state governors to subsidise the hajj fare for the intending pilgrims in their respective states to lessen the burden on the Federal Government.

Another source said it is a norm that the Federal Government does not announce the financial support it is giving to any faith.

“The government does not like to announce it openly so that it will not appear as if the government is favouring on faith,” the source said.