Hajj fare: Group tasks pilgrims’ boards on enlightenment

Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation that monitors and report hajj activities, has called on state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to embark on adequate enlightenment of intending pilgrims on the cost of the 2018 hajj.
The 2018 fare, as announced so far, indicates a significant decrease from that of 2017.
IHR, in a statement signed in Kaduna by its national coordinator, IbrahimMohammed, recalled that the hajj 2017 fare rose from N998, 000 in 2016 to N1.5 million due to corresponding increase in exchange rate from N190/$1 in 2016 to N360/$1 in 2017.
Despite the reduction in the fare, IHR said “many intending pilgrims thought that the 2018 hajj fare may also record the same difference as that of 2016 and 2017 hence, the low turnout recorded in number of registered pilgrims this year.” The civil society group also said “due to the commendable efforts of the federal government through NAHCON and states pilgrims board, 2018 hajj fare is less than N1.5 million despite the fact that exchange rateremains the same in comparison to 2017.
“We therefore urge NAHCON and states pilgrims’ boards to use this opportunity to reconfigure the mindset of intending pilgrims by conducting enlightenment on the hajj fare and the need for those who are interested in this years’ hajj to hasten payment,” IHR said.