A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Kabiru Gombe, has urged the Nigerian government and state governors to come to the aid of intending Hajj pilgrims, adding that it is time they enjoyed the benefit of supporting a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election.
He said this during Ramadan Tafseer on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the increase of 2024 Hajj fare.
The National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, had increased the fare for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91 and also set March 28, 2024, as the deadline for intending pilgrims to make their payments.
NAHCON had earlier fixed N4.9 million, as the 2024 Hajj fare but later announced an increment of N1.9 million, raising the amount to N6.8 million.
Reacting to the development, Malam Gombe noted that many intending pilgrims may not be able to perform this year’s pilgrimage due to the increase in the Hajj fare.
He, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu and his deputy Kashim Shettima to look into the situation and balance the payment for the 50,000 intending pilgrims in the country.
“In the current situation, there is a possibility that if the government does not intervene and balance the payments of Nigerians, they will not be able to go to Hajj this year which will be a shame to our Muslim leaders.
“Because it is not the fault of the intending pilgrims, the commission had fixed the amount and some have sold their properties to make the payment, they have nothing left, therefore with this increment, they have no other option than to collect back their money.
“This is not the first time, even former president Obasanjo and Jonathan, who are not Muslim balanced some amount to the intending pilgrims during their time,” he said.
He appealed to Muslim governors to consider the payment if the Federal Government did nothing about the problem.
“Where are northern governors? Abba Gida-Gida of Kano State, Dikko Raddaa of Katsina, Zulum of Barno, Bago of Niger, Danmodi of Jigawa State, Inuwa of Gombe, and Uba Sani of Kaduna, do something urgently to help your people perform this year’s Hajj,” Gombe added.
