Amid unstable foreign exchange of naira to dollar, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has fixed N4.9 million as the highest fare to be paid for the 2024 Hajj from the N4.5 million earlier announced as deposit by intending pilgrims from the country.
This was even as the commission advised the intending pilgrims to balance their Hajj fare before Monday, February 12, to enable it transfer the funds before the imminent deadline.
Its chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi, had maintained that the N4.5 million charged as initial deposit for the holy pilgrimage would be sustained, until further crash of the nation’s currency last week.
According to a statement signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara and issued at the weekend, intending pilgrims from the Southern centre are required to pay N4,899,000 as Hajj fare; those from the Northern centre will pay N4,699,000, for the Hajj and pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri centres will pay N4,679,000 due to their proximity to Saudi Arabia.
Usara, who stated that the prospects of sticking to the N4.5 million fixed as initial deposit “had remained high”, regrettably explained that “the recent instability in the dollar exchange rate compelled a necessary adjustment despite commendable efforts by NAHCON chairman, Jalal Ahmad Arabi to maintain cost of this year’s Hajj at the said rate.”
She disclosed that Arabi had actively negotiated substantial discounts with service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in late January, striving to alleviate costs for intending pilgrims.
“However, the volatile currency situation within the (last) week necessitated the commission to take a drastic decision to consolidate the gains achieved in lowering the cost of services for the Hajj, without which the price of 2024 Muslim pilgrimage might have shot to about N6,000,000 (six million Naira).
“Consequently, intending pilgrims from Nigeria’s Southern center are required to pay N4,899,000 as Hajj fare; those from the Northern center will pay N4,699,000, for the Hajj and pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri center will pay a fee of N4,679,000 for the 2024 Hajj.
“While expressing his regret, chairman Arabi stated that this is the will of Allah, because the commission, facing a tight deadline of 25th February, has limited time to explore further options to remain within the range of N4.5million which he assiduously worked for,” Usara stressed.
NAHCON, however, assured the public of its commitment to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage for all participants despite the challenges posed by foreign exchange factors, commending the understanding and cooperation of the Nigerian Muslim community during these times.
