TheCable

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation (CSO), has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for reducing hajj fares for 2024 pilgrims.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ibrahim Mohammed, national coordinator of the organisation, said the commission has saved intending pilgrims the sum of N1.5 million in hajj fare.

NAHCON had on Saturday announced a reduction of the earlier estimated fee of N6 million to N4.8 million.

Jalal Arabi, chairman of NAHCON, said the commission had to arrive at a decision amid the plummeting value of the naira, due to the tight deadline.

Arabi said the commission has until February 25 to finalise arrangements for hajj, adding that pilgrims must balance payments before February 15.

“Consequently, intending pilgrims from Nigeria’s southern center are required to pay N4,899,000 as hajj fare,” the chairman said.

“Those from the northern center will pay N4,699,000, for the hajj and pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri center will pay a fee of N4,679,000 for the 2024 hajj.”

Mohammed added that the cost of hajj fare earlier released by the head of public affairs of NAHCON, raised the hopes of pilgrims that the fee would not be up to N4 million.

He asked NAHCON to “refrain from unnecessarily raising intending pilgrims’ hopes of a reduced fare until all options are considered and decisions taken”.

He said NAHCON did not disclose the exact amount for Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) that each pilgrim is expected to receive.

“We urge NAHCON to immediately inform all intending pilgrims how much they will be receiving as their BTA to aid their proper planning for the pilgrimage and also promote transparency and accountability,” he added.