The commission handling pilgrimage, NAHCON, had announced the new rate adjustment, citing the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar.
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Wednesday urged the Nigerian government to subsidise Hajj fees for first-timers intending to go to the Holy Land.
The commission handling pilgrimage, NAHCON, had announced the new rate adjustment, citing the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar.
According to the statement by NAHCON's spokesperson, Fatima Sanda-Usara about 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9million each to the commission had been told to pay an additional N1.9million each on or before 28 March, while new registration had been fixed at N8.5million.
She explained that the 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota, had earlier paid the sum of N4.9million to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.
However, Ndume rejected the arbitrary increase in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, describing it as unfair and a deliberate plan to deny Muslims, especially first timers, the opportunity to partake in the exercise.
He said pilgrims who paid the old fees could not be compelled to cough out almost N2million barely one week to the end of the registration, adding that the five pillars of Islam, which are, Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj, were reasons Muslims embark on the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
While listing the five pillars of Islam namely Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj, Ndume said the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca was required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime.
He called on President Bola Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers attend this year’s Hajj to the Holy Land.
He also called on the respective State Governments to foot the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new fee set by NAHCON.
Ndume said: “The sudden hike in the fees intending pilgrims are expected to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You cannot impose such on them. They had already paid ahead of time. If there is any changes, the burden should be on NAHCON and not on the intending pilgrims.
“Something urgent needs to be done about this. I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fee as directed by NAHCON. This is the right thing to do in order to save the situation.
“I am also calling on States pilgrims are coming from to subsidise the fees, especially first timers. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is unfair to deny first timers the right to perform this spiritual exercise, especially after they have already paid the old fee set by NAHCON.
“I do not think it is fair to ask them to pay almost N2 million again. Many of the pilgrims saved up the money for many years to enable them participate in Hajj. You cannot deny such people the right to participate.
“I strongly believe that the right thing to do is to subsidise the fee and take the extra burden off the intending pilgrims, especially first timers who deserve to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise. We need to help them.”