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 individuals, from taking part within the holy pilgrimage.
NAHCON not too long ago introduced the speed adjustment, citing the present alternate price of N1,474.00 to a greenback as the explanation for the hike.
This adjustment impacts virtually 50,000 intending pilgrims who had initially paid N4.9 million every, primarily based on the earlier alternate price 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 practically 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 no less than as soon as of their lifetime.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to think about 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’t afford the brand new charges set by NAHCON.
He mentioned: “The sudden hike within the charges intending pilgrims are anticipated to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You can’t impose such on them. That they had already paid forward of time. If there are any modifications, the burden needs to be on NAHCON and never on the meant pilgrims.
“One thing pressing must be completed about this. I name on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the fee of the additional charge as directed by NAHCON. That is the correct factor to do to avoid wasting the state of affairs.
“I’m additionally calling on state governments to subsidise the charges for first-timers. Hajj is among the 5 pillars of Islam and it’s unfair to disclaim first-timers the correct to carry out this non secular train, particularly after they’ve already paid the outdated charge set by NAHCON.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 truthful to ask them to pay virtually N2 million once more. Most 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 correct to take part.
“I strongly imagine that the correct factor to do is to subsidise the charge and take the additional burden away from pilgrims, particularly first-timers who need to take part on this yr’s hajj train. We have to assist them.”