Following the sudden increase of Hajj fare by N1,918,032.91as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has approved the sum of N1,453,000,000 as subsidy to intending pilgrims of the state.
Recall that early this week, NAHCON announced the increase of Hajj fares by N1,918,032.91, making the total fares to N6,617,032.91 for those that had already deposited the initial N4.9m.
Also, according to NAHCON, fresh intending pilgrims are required to pay N8,254,464.74 as the full Hajj fare for this year’s holy exercise.
Speaking at a Press Conference on Wednesday, the Director General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa, announced that the state governor had paid N500,000 to each of the 2,906 intending pilgrims of the state.
The DG said Kano State Government took the decision with regards to the recent increase of the Hajj fares by NAHCON which it cited instability in foreign exchange as the main reason.
According to Danbappa, the governor’s gesture came after considering the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians, which could be difficult for the Kano intending pilgrims, who already deposited N4.9 million initial fare, to add the increased N1.9 million.
” We consider the current economic hardship people are facing and the increase of Hajj Fares is a great challenge to many intending pilgrims, that is why we have come up with this intervention to support our prospective pilgrims,” he said.
He urged all intending pilgrims to ensure payment of the remaining N1.4 million balance before tomorrow, March 28 as directed by NAHCON.
The DG also called on NAHCON to ask for deadline extension from Saudi Arabia to enable intending pilgrims pay their Hajj fare balance on time.
