Hajj 2024: Hajj Operators seek FG support; says Hajj fare may reach N6million

The Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria, AHUON has expressed worries that the 2024 Hajj fare could rise up to N6 million.

Hajj Reporters recalls that the 2023 Hajj fare was N2.9 million, amount that sparked outrage in the country.

But the National President of AHUON, Alhaji Yahya Suleiman Nasidi, expressed worry that the fare could be double of last year’s amount due to rising rate of US Dollar.

He called on the Federal Government and the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON to help them in the depositing of their 2024 Hajj Funds in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking during the 2024 Hajj sensitization Seminar, with a theme, “Hajj 2024 New Challenges, Boundless Opportunity, in Kano, Wednesday, the AHUON President said the association has been operating for over 15 years but has never enjoyed any concessionary forex policy from the Federal Government; saying that the 2024 hajj may be very challenging if the Federal Government did not grant concessionary window for the hajj pilgrims.

Alh Nasidi said, although they have been in the business for over 15 years, “we had not been having any forex allocation from government but still, we are still doing our businesses with forex from markets.

Alh Nasidi urges intending pilgrims to register early to be able to be part of the 2024 hajj because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has fast-forwarded hajj preparations said, “we are afraid that is what would happen this year without intervention of the government.”

He noted that “Another Problem is the cost of Hajj this year. Last year we operated at N3 Million, now it could go up to N6 Million. That is why we are calling on those who want to perform Hajj this year to endeavor to pay their Hajj fare as early as possible”.

The President warned that if by the end of November, intending pilgrims did not pay his fare, they would be out of registration because this time, Saudi Arabia has introduced a system to close collection of Hajj remittance four months to Arafat.

“So if payment is not made one can’t get Visa and can’t travel, so the Problems is from all angles the Forex issue this is a problems that even if we are going to get it from outside we still need to transfer it as an offshore payment.”