The Senate’s Chief Whip, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has criticised the rise within the 2024 Hajj fare by the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON), saying it was unjust and a deliberate transfer to forestall Nigerian Muslims, notably first-time contributors, from taking part within the holy pilgrimage.
NAHCON lately introduced the speed adjustment, citing the present change charge of N1,474.00 to a greenback as the rationale for the hike.
This adjustment impacts nearly 50,000 intending pilgrims who had initially paid N4.9 million every, primarily based on the earlier change charge of N897 to a greenback.
The fee requested intending pilgrims who want to take part within the 2024 Hajj to pay an extra N1.9 million by March 28.
Senator Ndume, in a press release on Wednesday, expressed concern that compelling pilgrims to pay almost N2 million extra only a week earlier than the registration deadline is unfair.
Highlighting the importance of hajj as one of many 5 pillars of Islam, Ndume emphasised that each Muslim ought to have the chance to carry out this sacred pilgrimage a minimum of as soon as of their lifetime.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contemplate subsidising the additional price to facilitate first-time pilgrims’ participation.
Ndume additionally referred to as on state governments to cowl the extra bills for intending pilgrims who can not afford the brand new charges set by NAHCON.
He stated: “The sudden hike within the charges intending pilgrims are anticipated to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You can’t impose such on them. They’d already paid forward of time. If there are any modifications, the burden needs to be on NAHCON and never on the supposed pilgrims.
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“One thing pressing must be achieved about this. I name on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the fee of the additional charge as directed by NAHCON. That is the appropriate factor to do to avoid wasting the scenario.
“I’m additionally calling on state governments to subsidise the charges for first-timers. Hajj is likely one of the 5 pillars of Islam and it’s unfair to disclaim first-timers the appropriate to carry out this non secular train, particularly after they’ve already paid the outdated charge set by NAHCON.
“I don’t assume it’s honest to ask them to pay nearly N2 million once more. Lots of the pilgrims saved up the cash for a few years to allow them to take part in hajj. You can’t deny such folks the appropriate to take part.
“I strongly consider that the appropriate factor to do is to subsidise the charge and take the additional burden away from pilgrims, particularly first-timers who should take part on this yr’s hajj train. We have to assist them.”
