Clerics lament hike in hajj fare

Some Islamic clerics have expressed concern over the hike in hajj fare, which the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) pegged at N4.5 million per seat.

They lampooned the commission for increasing the hajj fare without considering the present economic realities.

Mallam Magaji Kwogoro (Dan Aljanna) said the hike in this year’s hajj fare would prevent low-income earners and middle-class citizens from performing the religious obligation.

Dan Aljanna said with such an increase, only top government officials, politicians, and the rich would be able to pay such a huge amount to perform hajj.

• GBV: Rapists to be castrated in Kaduna — Official
• 2030: FG adopts global agenda for medical rehabilitation

He reminded those at the helm of affairs that pilgrimage is not religious tourism but an obligation to all able Muslims.

He, therefore, urged both the federal and state governments to subsidise the hajj pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims, especially low-income earners.

“The government should note that hajj is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, hence the need to subsidise the cost to accord eligible intending pilgrims the benefit of performing hajj at least once in a lifetime,” he said.

Also, Mallam Shuaibu Salihu of Al-Muassa in Zaria said the current exchange rate of naira to the dollar could be responsible for the hike in hajj fare.

He, however, said the government must devise means of subsidising the price as part of its corporate responsibility to the citizenry.

The Islamic cleric said the Christians should also enjoy such subsidies while traveling to Jerusalem for their religious rites for equity and fairness.