As is usually the case, the 2024 Hajj exercise has already generated some concerns which the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) under its new Chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, is trying very hard to address. Since the announcement of the Hajj fares by the commission and even up till now there has been a consistent expression of divergent views by the intending pilgrims and other Muslims.
Obviously, the fluctuation of the rate of foreign exchange has, in the case of this year, been the biggest cause of the uncertainties about the actual fares. The instability in the foreign exchange market has thrown up some challenges which NAHCON on one hand and the intending pilgrims on the other are, in their own respective ways, struggling to tackle.
The NAHCON in particular has continued to show enough sensitivity to the concerns being expressed by the intending pilgrims over the effects of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, which has translated into a rise of the Hajj fares. It consistently provides all the necessary facts behind the figures that have so far been announced as the Hajj fares for this year, all of which are sufficient answers to all the questions about the financial cost of the exercise for the individual pilgrims.
In its latest attempt to clarify the issues, NAHCON released a statement in which it explained the reason(s) for the increase and the variations in the fares and also offered an advice for the pilgrims. In the statement signed by its Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, the commission “appreciates the high level of understanding and concern that have been demonstrated to it publicly and privately over the 2024 Hajj fare dilemma” and proceeds to explain that the “late remittances of Hajj fare by those concerned necessitated adjustments, resulting in two date shifts with the final being 12th of February 2024”.
However, even with the full acknowledgement of the understanding being extended to it, the commission continues to draw the attention of all stakeholders in the Hajj exercise, particularly the intending pilgrims, to the various forms of the dilemma that it is experiencing. The unforeseen and therefore unexpected hike of Hajj fares for those pilgrims who had initially paid the sum of N4.9 million, “depending on the departure zone as approved by government” has appeared as a very weighty challenge for the commission.
This reality is clearly a product of the scenarios that have continued to determine the exchange rates, all of which are bold manifestations of instability in the global financial market. As a major consequence of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, NAHCON has now been left to find a way out with regards to about 50,000 intending pilgrims under the Public Quota who paid the N4.9 million and whose payments, as indicated in the statement issued by Usara, “are currently in the custody of the commission”.
What is, however, particularly encouraging for the intending pilgrims is the effort being made by NAHCON to explore available options, one of which is a call on the various state governments and wealthy individuals to come to the aid of those intending pilgrims who have been negatively affected by the increase. This is the only way in which the state governments as well as rich organisations and individuals can complement the efforts of the federal government towards the provision of necessary support for the Nigerian pilgrims.
Moreover, the rise of the value of the naira in the last few weeks as a result of which it is now N1,474.00 to a dollar makes the amount payable by those who have already made deposits to become N1,918,032.19, which is expected to be settled by noon of 28th March, 2024. The commission expects the intending pilgrims in this category to quickly take full advantage of this opportunity and make the required payment within the stipulated period.
The commission also states that new registration for the Hajj will “attract the full sum of N8,225,464.74 from the Adamawa/Borno axis”, while those from the Northern Zone are required to pay N8,254,46474 and the sum of N8,454,464.74 is to be paid by pilgrims from the Southern Zone. It further explains that the deadline in respect of payments by intending pilgrims in this category is same as the one for those mentioned above.
It needs to be stated, at this juncture, that NAHCON had series of negotiation with the providers of services in the Holy Land as a result of which it obtained assurance that they will not, even in the event of any further fluctuation of the exchange rate, raise the cost of accommodation and transportation. This is part of the fruit of the engagement between the team of the commission led by its chairman, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, and the owners of those facilities.
Meanwhile, as NAHCON continues with the preparations for the Hajj operations this year, it is quite fundamental for the various stakeholders to show corresponding support so that a maximum success can be achieved. At this critical stage of the exercise, the co-operation of the stakeholders in the form of compliance with the established practice is most necessary.
Malam Shu’aibu Isa is a public affairs commentator based in Kaduna
