Against further depletion of foreign exchange to Nigerian currency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced a sum of N376 million intervention to complete the shortfall in Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) of state pilgrims embarking on this year’s hajj.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, (NAHCON) had announced $500 BTA for Nigerian pilgrims at the exchange rate of N1, 250 to US Dollar.
However, the prevailing volatility of the exchange rate which further push the rate to over N1,500 to US Dollar, has now reduced the approved $500 BTA to $415 per pilgrim.
Disclosing the intervention on Monday Governor Yusuf explained that Kano contigents should be issued full $500 BTA regardless of the fluctuation in the exchange rate. The governor said the gesture was relieve the pilgrims of the financial burden while enabling them seamlessly spiritual experience.
He said the government would be responsible for the sum of N121,000 to each of the over 3,100 pilgrims, amounting to N376,310,000.
Governor Yusuf had earlier released the sum of N500 million to subsidize the state pilgrims when the National Hajj Commission announced additional N1. 9million hajj fare.
According to him, “If the BTA go by the initial rate of N1,250, the BTA would be short for the pilgrims. Now we have decided to intervene. I hereby announce the top up of N 376,310,000. I advised you to utilize this BTA so that you should not be stranded in the holy land,”
The governor who spoke during the physical hajj demonstration at Kano hajj camp announced the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam as leader of the state government’s delegation for this year’s exercise.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 9,284 Nigerian pilgrims have so far airlifted from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.
Similarly, the first batch of Nigerian contigents have arrived Makka after completed their four days mandatory stay in the prophet city of Madina.
The first set of 1,256 from pilgrims Kebbi, and Nassarawa states as well as those from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, began the next stage of their movement to Makka yesterday and would be followed by next set of pilgrims Monday.
Information release by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) operation centre, the pilgrims had a stop over at miqaat, a 90 kilometers from Makka where pilgrims are expected to assume sacred state of mind and purification of body in readiness to perform the pilgrimage in the holy city.
According to the release, the pilgrims are filled with excitement and anticipation as they prepare to fulfill their religious obligation and seek the blessings of their creator.