In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on intending pilgrims, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has announced a significant subsidy of N1 million for each pilgrim preparing for the hajj pilgrimage.
The announcement came through the spokesperson of the Jigawa Pilgrims Welfare Board, Murtala Usman, who conveyed the governor’s gesture to reporters on Monday.
Mr. Usman clarified that the subsidy applies to intending pilgrims from Jigawa State who had already deposited their fees for the upcoming 2024 hajj exercise.
As a result of the subsidy, each pilgrim will now only be required to pay approximately N900,000, a substantial reduction from the initially projected fare of N1.9 million announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Highlighting the specifics, Mr. Usman noted that out of the 1,518 seats initially allocated to Jigawa State by NAHCON, only 1,260 seats were sold to intending pilgrims who had completed their payments prior to the fare increase.
The decision to implement the subsidy was prompted by the sudden increase of N1.9 million in the hajj fare announced by NAHCON.
This adjustment left many intending pilgrims facing financial strain, prompting the intervention of the Jigawa State government to alleviate the financial burden on its citizens.
NAHCON had attributed the fare increase to adjustments in the foreign exchange rate, which stood at N1,474.00 to a dollar. This adjustment impacted approximately 49,000 intending pilgrims who had previously paid N4.9 million each to the commission.
Efforts by NAHCON to maintain the existing fare proved futile, leading to the decision to announce a new rate of N8.5 million for new registrations.
While the fare adjustment has stirred concerns among intending pilgrims, the subsidy provided by the Jigawa State government offers a glimmer of relief for those preparing to embark on the sacred hajj pilgrimage.