The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has described the increase in fares for intending Muslim Pilgrims as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON); as unfair and unacceptable.
He described the increase as a deliberate ploy to deny Nigerian Muslims, especially first timers the opportunity to participate in the religious exercise.
Ndume said this in a statement in Abuja, on Wednesday.
NAHCON had on Sunday, announced the new rate adjustment contained 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 make the adjustment.
According to the NAHCON statement, 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.
About 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission have been told 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.
However, in his statement Senator Ndume said 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.
While listing the five pillars of Islam, namely: Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, Ndume said, the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime.
He appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers fulfill their religious obligation by attending this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
In the same vein, he appealed to respective State Governments to shoulder the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new rates set by NAHCON.
Ndume said, “The sudden hike in the fees intending pilgrims are expected to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You cannot impose such on them. They had already paid for ahead of time. If there is any changes, the burden should be on NAHCON and not on the intending pilgrims.
“Something urgent needs to be done about this. I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fee as directed by NAHCON. This is the right thing to do in order to save the situation.
“I am also calling on States pilgrims are coming from to subsidise the fees of pilgrims, especially first timers. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is unfair to deny first timers the right to perform this spiritual exercise, especially after they have already paid the old fee set by NAHCON.
“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 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.”
