Rivers, Kebbi, Kano, Kogi, Osun subsidise 2024 hajj fare for pilgrims
The federal and Rivers, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, and Osun governments have provided subsidies to offset the balance of hajj fare for the 2024 intending pilgrims.
The deadline set for all and final payments by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) expires Friday, March 29.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the FG has released N90 billion to subsidise the 2024 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The NAHCON had pegged the fare at the on set at N4,899,000 for southern pilgrims; N4,699,000 for those from the North; while pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri centres were asked to pay N4,679,000.
But on Sunday last week, the hajj commission had increased the fare by N1,918,032.91, jacking up the total amount to N6.8 million.
The commission had also said intending pilgrims had up to (March 28 to pay up the extra N1.9 million for the spiritual exercise.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers State at the on set paid for all the 48 intending pilgrims and when the NAHCON announced increase on March 24, the governor immediately paid the balance for all the intending pilgrims.
The Kebbi State government has given the additional N1.9m increase in Hajj fare for the state’s intending pilgrims.
The spokesperson to the governor, Ahmed Idris, said “The governor has directed that the additional hajj fare for the pilgrims be paid.”
He said over 4,875 pilgrims are expected to depart the state for this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Similarly, the Kogi State government has paid over N800 million to secure clearance for 460 intending pilgrims from the state to perform the 2024 holy pilgrimage to Makkah.
Governor Usman Ododo’s spokesperson, Ismaila Isah, said the Kogi State Hajj Commission effected full payment via its contribution in the Hajj Savings Scheme organised by NAHCON.
“Kogi State now fully cleared off the over N800 million which should have been paid by its over 460 pilgrims that are now set to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah,” he said.
On Thursday Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State announced a subsidy of N500,000 for each of the intending pilgrims from the state.
The Director General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Lamin Dan Baffa, said, the state government will pay a total sum of N1.4 billion for the 2,096 registered pilgrims.
Dan Baffa said with this subsidy, intending pilgrims should now pay N1.4 million instead of N1.9 million.
The Chairman of the Osun State Pilgrims Board, Dr. Morufu Olawale Isola, said the intending pilgrims from the state were responding to the fare hike of N1.9 million announced by NAHCON.
A reliable source said at least 400 intending pilgrims from the state had paid the N1.9 million extra fee, while others were processing the payment.
Governor Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State said the government would do everything necessary to aid smooth hajj operation for pilgrims from the state.
In Osun, 1,540 intending pilgrims registered with the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and paid the initial fare.
Governor Adeleke was asked whether the state government would subsidize the extra cost of the hajj fare for Osun pilgrims, the governor said: “The way God has been assisting us, it is the same way that we will assist them.”
