All intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj who paid through the 36 states and armed forces will receive a Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) of $500 findings by HAJJ REPORTERS exclusively reveals.
There has been widespread apprehension among the pilgrims after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) announced the final Hajj fare without announcing the usual BTA embedded within the fare.
Independent Hajj Reporters, had consistently called on the commission and states Muslim pilgrims welfare agencies to announce the BTA ahead of time to enable the pilgrims make adequate plans for their journey.
A highly placed source informed HAJJ REPORTERS that the commission has informed the States Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Boards that pilgrims that paid N6.617 million or N8. 254 million North and N8.454 million South as their Hajj fare through the states will be given $500 Basic Travel Allowance.
“Yes, NAHCON has informed the states that this year’s BTA is $500 and that we should tell our pilgrims. The information was communicated to us by the Chairman himself I think 2 or 3 days after Independent Hajj Reporters issued the statement. Though we already knew because item 26 under State Charges in the hajj details sent to us when the fare was pegged at N4.7 million shows that the sum of N425,000 was earmarked for BTA and if you convert it, it is within 500 dollars, “he said.
Hajj Reporters recalls that pilgrims from states were paid $800 as BTA since 2016 until the last board of NAHCON reduced it to $700.
The Basic traveling allowance is included in the hajj fare to enable pilgrims access foreign currency in Saudi Arabia to cater for personal expenses during the hajj exercise.
