As the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) fixes N4.5 million per slot and asked the state boards to begin the collection of deposits from prospective pilgrims, some Islamic clerics have decried the hike in this year’s fare.
The Saudi Arabian authorities have allotted 95,000 slots to Nigeria in next year’s pilgrimage, of which 71, 000 seats had been allocated to the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Nigeria Armed Forces.
The Islamic clerics and scholars in Zaria, who included Mallam Magaji Kwogoro (Dan Aljanna) said the hike would prevent the poor and low-income earners from performing the religious obligation.
He expressed fear that very soon, the middle-class citizens will be deprived from exercising one of the pillars of their religion due incessant hikes in travelling fares.
Kwogoro observed that with such an increase, only top government officials, politicians and the rich will have the privilege of meeting the required amount for the pilgrimage to the holy land.
He reminded those at the helm of affairs that pilgrimage is not a religious tourism but an obligation to all able Muslims, hence the need for the government to provide subsidy for liberal opportunity to exercise the rite at least once in a lifetime.
Similarly, Mallam Shuaibu Salihu of Al-Muassa Tudun Wada, Zaria said the high inflation and exchange rate of the naira to dollar could be enough reason to hike the hajj fares.
According to him, since Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, the government must devise means of subsidising the price as part of its corporate responsibility to the citizenry.
The Islamic scholar said the Christians shall also be made to enjoy such subsidy while travelling to Jerusalem for their religious rites for equity and fairness.
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