The Bauch state Governor Senator Bala Muhammad has said that the state Government will foot half of the additional N1.9 million hajj fares recently announced for intending Muslim pilgrims from the state
This is just as his Rivers state counterpart Sim Fubara on Friday March 29 2024 announced that the state Government will fully cover the additional hajj fare for all intending pilgrims from the state .
The Source reports that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON had late last week reeled out ,an additional cost to the 2024 Hajj package citing the fluctuating foreign exchange rate as a major reason.
The sudden increase of the original fares from about N4.9 million to N6.8 million has since put many intending pilgrims under pressure ,with many risking missing out on the trip to the Holy Land.
The Kano state Government was the first to come to the rescue of intending pilgrims ,with an announcement of a N500,000 Hajj subsidy for intending Muslim pilgrims earlier in the week.
The Rivers State Government said its gesture is aimed at ensuring that intending pilgrims from the state are supported to fulfill their religious obligations .
Governor Bala Muhammad ,besides taking up the payments of half of the additional cost ,has also extended the dateline for the payments by two days owing to the challenges posed to the earlier dateline of Friday March 29,by the Easter holidays.
The Bauchi State Governor noted that the state took the decision to come to the aid of the intending pilgrims to ensure that they participate in the exercise without going through unnecessary strains.
