By Alice Etuka, Abuja
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has paid N500,000 for each intending pilgrim who will perform this year’s Hajj under the umbrella of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Director General of the Board, Alhaji Lamin Dan Baffa, announced this during a press briefing on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Dan Baffa said, the Kano State Government took the decision to cushion the effect of the recent increase in Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as a result of instability of the forex exchange rate.
“We consider the current economic hardship people are facing and the increase of Hajj fares is a great challenge to many intending pilgrims, that’s why we came up with the subsidy initiative to alleviate the sufferings of intending pilgrims,” he said.
He urged all intending pilgrims to ensure that they pay the balance before March 28, 2024, as directed by NAHCON.
The Director General maintained that those to benefit from the Hajj subsidy are those who have already paid part-payment to the board, saying over 2,900 intending pilgrims have already made their part payment with the Board.
NAHCON had earlier announced the increase of Hajj fares with N1,918,032.91, which makes the total Hajj fares N6,617,032.91. Also, fresh intending pilgrims are required to pay N8,254,464.74 as the full Hajj fare for this year, as required by the Commission.
