The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has lamented the increase in the price of fares for intending Muslim pilgrims as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), News About Nigeria reports.
He made his displeasure known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
He noted that the increase in fares is unacceptable and unfair, adding that it is a ploy to deny Nigerian Muslims, especially first-timers, the opportunity to participate in the religious exercise.
Recall that NAHCON announced the new rate adjustment on Sunday in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the commission, Fatima Sanda-Usara.
While explaining the reason for the increase, the commission said the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar made it imperative to adjust, noting that about 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota had earlier paid the sum of N4.9 million (each) to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.
The Commission also directed the 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission, to pay an 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.
Reacting to this announcement, Ndume stressed that pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees should not be compelled to pay almost N2 million, barely one week to the end of the deadline set for registration.
He urged the federal government to subsidise the fee and take the extra burden away from pilgrims.
“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 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,” he stated.
