The Governor of Jigawa state, Umar Namadi, has announced the approval of ₦1 million subsidy for each of the state’s intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise.
This information was disclosed by the Director-General of the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Ahmed Umar Labbo, in an interview with newsmen in Dutse, the state capital.
The decision, the director says, was necessitated by the recent increase in fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, due to the volatility of the country’s currency, especially in recent months.
NAHCON had announced an increase of Hajj fares by ₦1,918,032.91, bringing the total to ₦6,617,032.91, which prompted many intending pilgrims who had paid the initial amount opt out of the exercise and also generated pleas from around the country for state governors and other stakeholders to wade in and assist the pilgrims.
The Kebbi state government has also approved a ₦1 million subsidy for each of the state’s contingent.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, disclosed this while addressing a press conference shortly after an emergency State Executive Council meeting chaired by the deputy governor, Umar Abubakar-Tafida, on Monday, April 1st, 2024, in Birnin Kebbi.
The commissioner stated that out of over 3,000 intending pilgrims from the state, the government promised to support each with ₦1m, while each of the pilgrims “is expected to complete the remaining balance of over ₦900,000, Pilgrims who completed payment of the fares would also enjoy the N1m magnanimity from the government.”
