- He described the fares increment by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as unfair and unacceptable.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has condemned the increase in fares for this year’s intending Muslim Pilgrims.
Ndume noted that the hike is a grand scheme to deprive Nigerian Muslims, especially first timers the opportunity to perform the annual religious rites.
He described the fares’ increment by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as unfair and unacceptable.
Recall that NAHCON had on Sunday, announced an upward review of hajj fares, citing foreign exchange volatility for its decision.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson of the commission, Fatima Sanda-Usara, the commission disclosed that the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar made the increment inevitable.
According to the NAHCON statement, about 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission when dollar exchanged for N897 at the banks will now have to cough up additional N1.9 million each on or before 28 March, while new registrants are expected to pay N8.5 million each in line with the prevailing rate.
However, in his statement Senator Ndume chided the commission for the increment which he said came in short notice.
He stated said pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees should not be forced to pay almost N2 million, barely one week to the end of the deadline set for registration.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers fulfill their religious obligation by attending this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
By the same token, he also urged respective State Governments to bear the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new rates set by NAHCON.
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 for ahead of time. If there is 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 in order 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 of the pilgrims saved up the money for many years to enable them 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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