By Ayodele Oni
There is hope for intending pilgrims in Kano State for this year’s Hajj as the State Government moves to subsidize the cost.
The State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf announced that Government will pay Subsidy of N500,000 Naira to each Intending Pilgrim that registered with the State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
The announcement came as a huge relief to many pilgrims who are being inundated with the sudden N1.9 million fare increase by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
Before the pilgrims subsidy was announced, there were many intending pilgrims that had dropped their ambition to fulfill one of the pillars of Islam this year.
Governor Yusuf confirmed in Kano that the subsidy of five hundred thousand Naira for each intending pilgrims for this years Hajj under the umbrella of Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, was meant to assist them perform their religious duty.
It was gathered that Government took the decision to alleviate the hardship intending Pilgrims were facing in terms of paying the remaining balance of the Hajj Fares as directed by NAHCON.
NAHCON was compelled to release the new increase following the instability of exchange rate of Dollar to Naira.
With the magnanimity of Kano State Government, intending pilgrims that have registered and paid the initial total deposit of N4.7million and N4.5 million with the state pilgrims board will now deposit N1.4 million out of the N1. 9 million increase.
