Senator Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the Senate, has expressed his opposition to the increased fees for the 2024 Hajj announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He believes the hike is unjust and designed to prevent Nigerian Muslims, particularly first-time participants, from partaking in the pilgrimage.
NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Sanda-Usara, recently released a statement justifying the fee adjustment due to the current exchange rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar. As a result, approximately 49,000 individuals who had already paid N4.9 million to the commission when the naira was valued at N897 to a dollar are now required to pay an additional N1.9 million each by March 28. Furthermore, new registrations are set at N8.5 million.
In response, Senator Ndume, in a statement issued in Abuja, emphasized the significance of Hajj as one of the five pillars of Islam and stressed that every Muslim should have the opportunity to participate in the sacred pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. He called upon President Bola Tinubu to approve subsidies to cover the additional costs, particularly for first-time pilgrims, thereby enabling them to fulfill their religious obligations.
Additionally, Senator Ndume appealed to state governments to assume responsibility for the additional expenses incurred by intending pilgrims who cannot afford the new fee set by NAHCON. He argued that depriving Muslims of their religious rights, especially first-time participants, is unjust and reflects poorly on the nation.
Senator Ndume highlighted the unfairness of burdening pilgrims who had already made payments with an additional sum of nearly N2 million, especially considering that many of them had saved for years to participate in the Hajj. He firmly asserted that subsidizing the fees and alleviating the financial strain on pilgrims, particularly first-time participants, is the appropriate course of action.
Senator Ndume urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fees as directed by NAHCON and called on state governments to provide subsidies to enable the participation of first-time pilgrims. He emphasized the importance of assisting these individuals in fulfilling their spiritual obligations and ensuring fairness in the Hajj registration process.