Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume has raised concerns over the recent increase in Hajj fees appealing to the government to intervene and ease the financial burden, particularly for first-time pilgrims.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had justified the increment of the fee, citing the exchange rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar, affecting about 49,000 pilgrims who had previously paid lower fees.
While rejecting the sudden hike, Senator Ndume stated that it is unfair and potentially exclusionary, especially for first-time participants, stating the significance of Hajj as one of Islam’s five pillars.
Ndume appeals to President Bola Tinubu to approve subsidizing the additional costs, urging state governments to also assist those unable to afford the new fees set by NAHCON.
The Senator stressed further that government intervention to alleviate the financial burden on pilgrims, would allow a fair and inclusive approach to enable all Muslims to fulfill their religious obligations.
