The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based Civil Society Organization (CSO) that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, has called on the Federal Government to consider approving a concessionary foreign exchange rate for 2024 intending pilgrims from the country.
A statement on Wednesday by the National Coordinator of IHR, Ibrahim Muhammed, stated that this is necessary due to multiple factors beyond the control of the pilgrims and even Hajj regulators.
Muhammed said the high exchange rate of the Naira to the US dollar which has been exchanged for N791 in the official window as against the N460 paid by Hajj 2023 pilgrims would negatively impact the projected cost of the 2024 Hajj.
Daily Trust reports that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had pegged N4.5m as a deposit for the hajj fare.
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The commission had stated that despite not increasing the hajj fare, the $6,650 paid last year showed that over N5m would be paid for the 2024 hajj due to the unification of Naira.
But Muhammed said unless the federal government grants a concessionary exchange rate, the country stands the risk of being “embarrassed” because the country may not be able to utilise even 30 percent of its allocated slot of 95,000 pilgrims.
“The current floating of forex has wiped out the value of their hard-earned savings – a challenge that is beyond their control,” he said.
