The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria increased the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91 and set a deadline of March 28, 2024.
The Nigerian Government has announced that it spent N90 billion to subsidize the cost of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage for citizens. Vice-President Kashim Shettima revealed this at the inauguration of the 2024 National Hajj operation, held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.
Shettima mentioned the challenges in announcing the final hajj fare for the 2024 Muslim pilgrimage due to fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and how President Bola Tinubu worked to control the downward spiral of the local currency. The President approved the release of N90 billion to subsidize the cost of this year’s hajj.
The commission had increased the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91 while setting a deadline of March 28, 2024. In December 2023, it fixed a fare of N4.9 million per pilgrim based on an exchange rate of N897 to a dollar. The commission later asked those who had paid the initial amount to add N1.9 million, raising the total amount to N6.8 million.
The announcement surprised potential pilgrims, many of whom had begun contacting their pilgrims' boards to request a refund of the N4.9 million deposit. The Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board had also said that no fewer than 100 intending pilgrims from the state would miss this year’s Hajj exercise due to the additional N1.9 million added to the fare.
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