HAJJ Fare Hike: Don’t Blame NAHCON
This year’s hajj fare of N1.5 million announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been generating ripples.
Prospective pilgrims have wondered why the fare is higher than that of 2016. They have therefore called for a reduction. Other stakeholders have called on the Federal Government (FG) to subsidise the hajj fare.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) considers the ensuing controversy unnecessary, uncalled for and a sheer waste of saliva and misuse of calories. The suspicion, distrust and allegations leveled against NAHCON equally results from misinformation.]The group in a statement signed by its Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola said that the high exchange rate was responsible for the hike.
Our investigations reveal that 98% of the services rendered by NAHCON in Saudi Arabia are determined in US dollars. Although the 2016 official exchange rate was N197 to a dollar, recession and the attendant fall of the naira forced 2017 official exchange rate to N305 to a dollar.
‘Hence, whereas a pilgrim needed just $4,003 in 2016, he/she now needs $4,805 this year. With the statistics, if we multiply $4,805 by N305, what we will get is N1,465,525 (approximately N1.5m). This is why NAHCON has pegged the 2017 hajj fare at N1.5 million.
‘Further investigation has also revealed that air ticket from the North is $1,600 while that of the South is $1,700. Furthermore, the cost of accommodation in Makkah is $933 while that of Madina is $430. These are easily verifiable.
‘MURIC opposes further subsidy for hajj this year for three reasons. Firstly, FG has already subsidized 2017 hajj because the official exchange rate is N368 whereas FG allowed N305. Pilgrims would have had to pay N1,768,240 (approximately N1.8m) at the prevailing bank rate of N368 per dollar if FG had not subsidized at all.
‘Secondly, Nigeria is in recession and Nigerian Muslims must be prepared to make sacrifices as government cannot afford to play the prodigal son at a time like this. About N34b would be needed to subsidise if pilgrims were to enjoy the 2016 rate of N197 per dollar but this cannot be rationalized in the face of the current recession.
‘Thirdly, every special concession granted to Muslims is most likely to become a subject of controversy as Christian groups are most likely to challenge FG for taking such an action. We must take the diverse character of our country into consideration at all times.
‘It is clear from the above details that it is highly naïve to blame NAHCON for the increase in hajj fare. Neither can FG or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) be blamed. The major correlate which determines hajj fare is the exchange rate.’ MURIC stated.
