Intending Muslim Pilgrims May Pay Up To N6 Million For 2024 Hajj

Intending Muslim pilgrims from Nigeria may have to pay up to six million Naira for Hajj in 2024.

The National President of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), Alhaji Yahya Suleiman Nasidi, noted this on Wednesday during the 2024 Hajj sensitization seminar in Kano, Naija News understands.

According to Nasidi, the amount which is twice the money paid during the 2023 exercise in Saudi Arabia, may become a new reality for intending pilgrims due to the rising rate of the US Dollar.

Nasidi urged the Federal Government and the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to assist in the deposition of their 2024 Hajj Funds in Saudi Arabia.

Nasidi, who spoke at a seminar titled “Hajj 2024 New Challenges, Boundless Opportunity” said: “We had not been having any forex allocation from government but we are still doing our businesses, with the forex from markets.

“We are afraid that is what would happen now without intervention of the government.

“Another Problem is the cost of Hajj this year. Last year we operated at N3 Million, now it could go up to N6 Million. That is why we are calling on those who want to perform Hajj this year to endeavor to pay their Hajj fare as early as possible.

“So, if payment is not made one can’t get Visa and can’t travel, so the problems are from all angles the forex issue. This is a problem that even if we are going to get it from outside we still need to transfer it as an offshore payment,” Vanguard quoted Nasidi as saying.