The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has said that the recently approved N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj operation was in order.
Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Executive Director, MURIC, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
“President Bola Tinubu recently approved a N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj operation, a move that has attracted criticism by some individuals and groups.
Some have even accused the President of sponsoring the operation.
“To sponsor Hajj, government has to pay the whole bill including the return ticket, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, feeding, whereas it is only a part of the bill that government will pay in case of subsidy.
“We need to clarify our position on subsidising and sponsoring Hajj as defined above within the context of the recent N90 billion subsidy offered by the Tinubu administration to support 2024 Muslim pilgrims.
“MURIC had opposed sponsorship of Hajj by government or government agencies, we still stand by this. Even the Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) took this stand earlier in 2016,” he said.
Akintola added: “Tinubu’s subsidy is a rescue mission. Such rescue missions are not uncommon in the past when the nation was faced with a crisis that required government’s intervention.
“The Muslim pilgrims of 2024 had demonstrated expression of interest and committed themselves to the Hajj scheme by paying the initial amount of N4.9 million in full.
“But the global economic downturn and the Nigerian foreign exchange crisis forced the Hajj authorities to demand an additional N1.9 million.
“At this point, most of the prospective pilgrims had reached the end of their tethers. Some of them were able to raise the first tranche of N4.9 million by selling their properties. Others raised it by saving over a period of five or more years.
“To fully understand the plight of 2024 intending pilgrims, we may need to compare the fees paid by 2023 pilgrims. 2023 Hajj fare was N1.8m for pilgrims flying from Maiduguri and Yola. Others paid more depending on the distance.”
“But the cost of pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia hit the roofs this year for obvious reasons and the unfortunate prospective pilgrims faced a dilemma. It had somehow become a frustrating experience, particularly for those who could not raise any additional money.
“The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), has revealed that 46,000, out of the 95,000 slots given to Nigeria for the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, were not paid for.
“No government will ignore the plight of such a large number of its citizens under such a vulnerable and unpredictable condition. Tinubu’s intervention is, therefore, in order.
“Many stakeholders, including the House of Representatives, appealed to the president to intervene in the matter of 2024 intending pilgrims before he made the move.
“As a result of NAHCON’s appeal, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi and a few others have added their widow’s mite,” he said.(NAN)
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