The Katsina State Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan, has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to reverse it’s last-minute decision to increase the 2024 Hajj fare from N4.9 million to N6.8 million.
NAHCON had earlier pegged the Hajj fare at N4.9 million before it announced an upward review of the fare on Sunday, citing the foreign exchange crisis rocking the country.
The commission is now asking intending pilgrims that have paid the initial amount to add a balance of N1.9 million, raising the total fare to N6.8 million while intending pilgrims that would make fresh payments are now required to pay N8.4 million.
Sheik Yakubu Musa who described the new fare as unrealistic, accused NAHCON of being inconsiderate of the plight of intending pilgrims who are expected to raise the said amount barely three days to the closure of payment.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by directing the commission to stick to the initial amount.
The Izala leader also tasked governors and lawmakers from northern states and other states that have large Muslim populations to dwell on NAHCON to stick to the initial Hajj fare.
Cov/Isma’il Adamu.