Senator representing Borno South and Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has described the arbitrary increase rate for the 2024 intending Hajj pilgrims by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), as unfair and a deliberate plan to deny Nigerian Muslims, especially first-timers the opportunity to participate in the exercise.
NAHCON had at the weekend, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Fatima Sanda-Usara announced the new rate.
The Commission premised its decision on the volatility of the foreign exchange.
Fatima Sanda-Usara noted that the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar makes it imperative to adjust.
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NAHCON further disclosed that about 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota, had earlier paid N4.9 million to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.
About 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission have been told to pay an additional N1.9 million each on or before 28 March, while new registration has been fixed at N8.5 million.
Rejecting the hike in the fare, the Senate Chief Whip said pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees could not be compelled to cough out almost N2 million, barely one week to the end of the registration.
Listing the five pillars of Islam, namely: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, Senator Ndume maintained that the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime.
He further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as a subsidy to enable first-timers to attend this year’s Hajj to the Holy Land.
He equally implored the respective State Governments to foot the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new fee set by NAHCON.
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The lawmaker declared that the sudden hike in the Hajj fare could frustrate intending pilgrims, particularly the first-timers the opportunity to fulfil their religious rights.
Ndume said: “The sudden hike in the fees intending pilgrims are expected to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You cannot impose such on them. They had already paid far ahead of time. If there are any changes, the burden should be on NAHCON and not on the intending pilgrims.
“Something urgent needs to be done about this. I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fee as directed by NAHCON. This is the right thing to do to save the situation.
“I am also calling on States, pilgrims are coming from, to subsidise the fees of pilgrims, especially first timers. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is unfair to deny first-timers the right to perform this spiritual exercise, especially after they have already paid the old fee set by NAHCON.
“I do not think it is fair to ask them to pay almost N2 million again. Many pilgrims saved up the money for many years to enable them to participate in Hajj. You cannot deny such people the right to participate.
“I strongly believe that the right thing to do is to subsidise the fee and take the extra burden away from pilgrims, especially first-timers who deserve to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise. We need to help them.”
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