The House of Representatives has urged executive arm of
the federal government to intervene by subsidising the 2024 hajj fare to enable intending pilgrims participate in the religious ritual.
To this end, the House Thursday, mandated its Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage to engage the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) with a view to reviewing and reassessing processes and strategies aimed at making pilgrimage fare more affordable for intending pilgrims.
The committee is expected to turn in its report to the House within four weeks.
This followed adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Umar Ajilo on the “Need to Review the 2024 Hajj Fare payable by Intending Pilgrims.”
The lawmaker noted that “Hajj is an important pillar of the Islamic religion that enjoins the visitation of the Holy Mosques and other historical sites, among other significant rituals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
He recalled that this year’s hajj fare has been fixed at a very exorbitant rate of about N5,000,000,00, which is unsuitable for middle- and low-income intending pilgrims.
He said, “Given the surrounding circumstances and prevailing economic reality, it has become necessary to reassess and review the processes and procedures adopted by the National Hajj Commission in arriving at the fare with a view to reducing it thereby, making same affordable to the intending pilgrims”.
