Following the decision of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to jack up the 2024 hajj fare by N1.9 million, many intending pilgrims yesterday asked the state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to refund their deposits, Daily Trust can report. 

This is just as prominent civil society organisations and stakeholders, yesterday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save this year’s hajj from “flopping.” 

NAHCON on Sunday increased the fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1, 918,032.91 while setting a deadline of March 28, 2024. It had in December 2023 fixed a fare of N4.9 million per pilgrim based on an exchange rate of N897 to a dollar. 

However, on Sunday, the commission asked those who had paid the initial amount to add N1.9 million, raising the total amount to N6.8 million. 

“Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in the 2024 hajj are by this release advised to proceed and pay a balance of N1, 918,032.91 latest by 11:59 pm of 28th March 2024. The commission will shut down its system by 29th March and no other payment would be accommodated after,” NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara said in a statement. The announcement, however, came as a shock to intending pilgrims, majority of whom had started approaching their pilgrims’ boards to seek a refund of the N4.9m deposit, it was learnt. 

Findings from pilgrims boards across the North and South of the country showed that only few intending pilgrims had started topping up; while many of the intending pilgrims have requested for a refund as they cannot afford the N1.9 million balance. 

Kano 

In Kano, there is uncertainty among intending pilgrims on the actual fare for the 2024 hajj exercise. Officials at the Kano State Pilgrims’ Board said they were yet to decide but an agreement was billed to be reached within the next 24 hours. 

“You know how this kind of development works, the information was just received this morning (Monday). So we are trying to sit down and see how to go about it. 

“The board is going to sit with all the centre officers across the 44 local government areas, deliberate and agree on how much will be announced as an increase,” one of the officials, who does not want his name mentioned, said. 

However, expressing concern, an intending pilgrim, Mustapha Ahmad, said while he envisaged going to hajj even once in his lifetime, he got the opportunity this time around through a loved one whom he cannot go back to with the news of increment. 

The case is almost the same with Hafsat Yusuf, who got involved with colleagues to raise her hajj fare. 

She said: “I am even speechless, we are waiting for the Kano Pilgrims’ Board to announce their own increment but I don’t know how to go about it. 

“I spent almost a year saving into contributions with friends. I received mine, sold a plot of land and paid for hajj. Now, what am I going to sell again or where would I go to get money to pay the balance? God will provide but we are in a state of confusion and only God knows how many of us could be able to afford the increment.”

Another intending pilgrim in Kano, Hajiya Rakiya Abubakar, said she could not sleep when she heard the news about the increment of hajj fares. 

“When I heard the news of the increment, I couldn’t sleep. I am thinking of where to find the money to complete the payment. This is incredible,” Rakiya said. 

Another pilgrim said that he lost interest in going for the pilgrimage again as he is not in the position to add anything to what he had deposited. 

Kwara 

In Kwara State, sources at the pilgrims’ board said many people have turned up to seek a refund, saying they would not be able to raise the balance.

“As I am talking to you, not more than 50 people have turned up to pay the balance today and we have just two days after today (Monday) for intending pilgrims to complete the money,” a source said. 

One of the intending pilgrims, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “All along I have been praying that NAHCON would not announce an increment in fare but alas, this is a bitter pill to swallow, I doubt if I would still be able to go.” 

Lagos 

In Lagos, our correspondent also gathered that many people turned up yesterday to seek a refund, saying they don’t have the extra payment. “Some people came and said they can’t get that money while we have people who have equally turned up to complete the payment. It is a mixture that we are having. We still have today (Monday), tomorrow and next tomorrow,” an official said. 

When contacted, the spokesman for the state pilgrims’ welfare board, Taofeek Lawal, said the state would give an update by Wednesday when the deadline would elapse. 

Also, a resident of Lagos, Abolaji Shehu, said he had long deferred the sponsorship of his mother even before the increment was announced, saying the cost is too prohibitive.