- MURIC warns against over-charging pilgrims
- Lagos urges pilgrims to complete payment
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it pegged this year’s hajj fare for N6,818,022 at the rate of N1,474 to a dollar.
The amount, the commission said, was for intending Hajj pilgrims that earlier paid N4.9 million. They will add a balance of N1.918,032 totaling N6,818,022. The commission said fresh applicants will pay N8.2 million.
It said the deadline for the payment for fresh applicants and those who had N1,918,032.91 to balance is Thursday (March 28).
In a statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON said the increment was due to high forex exchange rate.
The commission said it appreciated the high level of understanding and concern that have been demonstrated to it publicly and privately over the Hajj fare dilemma it has plunged in.
The statement reads: “This show of support gives the commission hope that stakeholders would leave no stone unturned for the success of the forthcoming Hajj exercise. At this juncture, the commission finds it imperative to give clarity regarding the 2024 Hajj fare arrangements.
“It is widely acknowledged that Hajj preparation follows a strict time line…However, due to late remittances of Hajj fare by those concerned necessitated adjustments, resulting in two date shifts with the final being February 12. Recall that as at December 31, Naira was still at N897 to a Dollar at the banks. These shifts unfortunately pushed the Hajj fare collection deadline to fall after harmonization of foreign exchange rates, presenting a new and significant challenge.
“What the harmonization meant in the Hajj fare equation was that in the face of global financial challenges, coupled with the new forex policy, Nigerian pilgrims would now be saddled with an unexpected increase in Hajj cost, despite having already paid the fixed fare of about N4.9 million, depending on the departure zone as approved by government.
“Federal Government saw wisdom in deliberately intervening on behalf of the Nigerian intending pilgrims through various strategies including persuading cost reductions. Unfortunately, the interventions could not cover the entire number that had met the final registration deadline. This had remained the commission’s dilemma. To make matters worse, now about 50,000 pilgrims under the Public Quota have paid the hitherto announced fare of about N4.9million and their payments are currently under the custody of the Commission.
“Considering the urgency of the situation, NAHCON was forced to explore various options, including encouraging State Governments and affluent individuals to intervene on behalf of their pilgrims. This window still remains open. This will complement the intervention of the Federal Government that went the extra mile to support the Nigerian Muslim pilgrims in the discharge of their religious obligation. Commendably, government’s policy focus of bringing down the exchange rate has given the Hajj fare reduction a boost.
“The good news now is that with Naira having appreciated to N1,474 to a Dollar over the preceding week and after due consultation with stakeholders, coupled with NAHCON’s desire to ensure equitable spread of the Federal Government’s intervention to all the already registered pilgrims whose payments have been received, the Commission resolved that each pilgrim would now have to pay a balance of N1,918,032.91 in accordance with the current foreign exchange rate…
“Affected pilgrims are advised to visit their respective state pilgrims boards to confirm their status.
“However, any new registration for 2024 Hajj from today, March 24, will attract the full sum of N8,225,464.74 from the Adamawa/Borno axis. From the North zone,fresh depositors will pay N8, 254, 464.74 whereas fresh payments from the Southern zone will attract N8, 454, 464.74 as Hajj fare. All categories are to pay within the same deadline.
“While the Commission regrets the short notice, it has become inevitable due to Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s stern warning to Nigeria regarding the delay in adhering to the Hajj arrangement framework. Before now, NAHCON had pleaded for an extension which had been reluctantly granted and now the Ministry’s patience is wearing thin.
“As for those who wish to withdraw their registration for the 2024 Hajj, they are advised to formally request for refund from their states which will be treated with all seriousness.
The next four days are crucial for stakeholders, especially those willing to intervene in support of their pilgrims, to take necessary actions and ensure smooth Hajj arrangements.
“NAHCON remains committed to facilitating the pilgrimage experience for Nigerian Muslims and seeks cooperation from all parties involved.”
The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board yesterday notified its intending pilgrims of the latest increment in the Hajj fare by NAHCON.
The Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede, said intending pilgrims who wish to pay the increment/fresh applicants are advised to raise their Bank draft from either Guaranteed Trust Bank (GTB) or Zenith Bank for ease of transaction.
“While the Board regrets the latest development, any intending pilgrims who wish to withdraw his/her intention may write formally for refund of their money or defer their intention till year 2025,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned hajj operators not to charge intending pilgrims higher than the current exchange rate of between N1,476.247 and N1,480 per dollar.
MURIC said doing so will cause more hardship to the pilgrims.
Its Executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, his organization is constrained to cry out on behalf of intending pilgrims against the astronomical exchange rate being demanded by hajj operators.
He said: “MURIC has it on good authority that intending pilgrims are told to pay an exchange rate of N1,625 per dollar whereas the current official Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rate as at yesterday 24th March, 2024 is N1,476.247 (selling) and N1,477.247 (buying). Unconfirmed reports say CBN is actually selling to Bureau de Change (BDC) at N1,300.
“Data from the federal government trading portal showed that as from Saturday, 23rd March, 2024, importers will be charged N1,448.386 per dollar for import duty. The new rate represents a 7.89 per cent reduction from the previous rate of N1,572.507 per dollar.
“Just as the Federal Government (FG) has adjusted its own import and export rates to conform with the current exchange rate, hajj operators owe it a duty to the poor pilgrims to scale down its own rate as well.
“We find the rate given to intending Muslim pilgrims discriminatory, irrational and unjustifiable. We are therefore constrained to demand a reasonable reduction in the exchange rate to be paid by 2024 prospective pilgrims. Charges being demanded by hajj operators must have a human face because hajj exercise is not necessarily a commercial enterprise and those engaging in it must manifest the fear of Allah (taqwah).”
“We are not unaware of the difficulties faced by operators in the face of fluctuation in the value of currencies. Nonetheless, we urge hajj operators not to charge intending pilgrims higher than the current exchange rate as at the time of payment while differences and undue charges are promptly returned.
