This means the state government will pay a subsidy of ₦959,000 for each of the 1,652 intending pilgrims from the state totalling ₦2.5bn.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Religion Affairs and Community Orientation, Alhaji Yakubu Hamza, on Friday while briefing newsmen on the development at the Government House, Bauchi.
The commissioner explained that “benefiting intending pilgrims comprise those who have already paid the increment and those who are yet to commit to the development as well as those who were being awarded a Hajj slot by the state government.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Abdulrahman Idris, explained that “intending pilgrims who have registered and paid the initial deposit of N4.7 million and N4.5 million with the State Pilgrims Board will now deposit ₦959,000 out of the N1.9 million increase.”
The National Hajj Commission had increased the fare for the year 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91.
The commission also set March 28, 2024, as the deadline for intending pilgrims to make their payments.
It attributed the increase in fares to the foreign exchange crisis rocking the country.
NAHCON had initially pegged the fare for this year’s pilgrimage at N4.9m, but the commission is now asking those who have paid the initial amount to add a balance of N1.9m raising the amount to N6.8m.
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