Kebbi, Kano, Kogi, Bauchi, Others Splash Billions On Hajj Subsidy
Anger, outrage and outright condemnation have continued to trail the decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to splash over N90bn to subside the 2024 Hajj Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as the country continues to battle economic hardship.
Nigerians on X described the gesture by the federal government as unnecessary and a waste.
Some Nigerians who have condemned the development include Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 general elections, Kator Tarkaa, Yusuf Adebanjo amongst others.
The development is currently trending on X and has generated over 436K views with thousands of reactions via retweets, likes, comments and re-share.
According to Sowore with over 13 million out of school children, the funds could have been redirected to something else.
“These guys are the most unserious set of people; Nigeria continues to be unfortunate by (s)electing functional morons as leaders; how on earth do you have 13 million out-of-school children, abandon them with begging bowls and then turn around to subsidise those going for religious ceremonies in the wealthiest oil-rich gulf state, Saudi Arabia?” he wrote.
On his part, Tarkaa described it as fiscal irresponsibility.
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“This is a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility. In a secular state where the constitution explicitly states the absence of a state religion, squandering such exorbitant sums on religious pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia or Israel is downright ludicrous. It’s high time the government reevaluates its priorities and focuses on investments that actually benefit the entire nation, rather than catering to specific religious interests” he posted.
Yusuf Adebanjo concurs.
“At a time when the country is going through an excruciating economic strife, N90 billion to subsidize hajj, for me, is a colossal waste of resources. Hajj should be a personal commitment; those resources could have been better deployed into other critical sectors” he added.
Okaka Odumodu also added his voice to the debate.
“They are clearly not interested in the welfare of the people. They just want to remain super rich and give handouts to the poor. It’s high time we took power back from them” he added.
It would be recalled that NAHCON had, in December last year, fixed a fare of N4.9 million per pilgrim based on the exchange rate of N897 per US dollar.
However, through a statement issued last Sunday by its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, the Hajj commission had raised the fare by N1, 918,032.91, hiking the total amount to N6.8 million.
In the same worrying developments, states who are hitherto struggling to meet their responsibilities are also deploying billions to subsidize Hajj.
The Matrix investigation shows that Bauchi intends to spend N2.5bn, Kano- N1.4bn, Kebbi- N9.2bn and Kogi-N500m to subsidise Hajj fare.
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed has approved a 50 per cent subsidy, amounting to N950,000, for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The state government said it will pay a subsidy of N959,000 for each of the 1,652 intending pilgrims from the state, totalling N2.5 billion.
“In a landmark decision aimed at facilitating religious obligations and enhancing the welfare of its citizens, His Excellency, the Governor of Bauchi State, has approved the subsidy of Hajj fare for all intending pilgrims from the state.
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“This historic move was sequel to the recent announcement by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOM) on the adjustment of the 2024 Hajj fare, where intending pilgrims are now required to pay an additional sum of one million, nine hundred and eighteen thousand fifty naira (N1,918,050) only.
“In line with the foregoing, the Bauchi State Government, under the inspirational leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed, has subsidised the sum of nine hundred and fifty-nine thousand, twenty-five naira (N959,025.00), which stands at 50% of the above additional fare for each of the 2,290 intending pilgrims from Bauchi State.”
“In view of the above development, the governor has equally approved the immediate release of the sum of two billion one hundred and ninety-six thousand, one hundred and ten naira (N2,196,110) only for the payment of the subsidy fare.
“This unprecedented development underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that Muslim faithful in Bauchi State have the opportunity to fulfil their sacred duty of performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.”
Similarly, the Kebbi State government has paid the additional N1.9m increase in hajj fare for the state’s intending pilgrims.
The chief press secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris confirmed the development, he disclosed that “The governor has directed that the additional hajj fare for the pilgrims be paid.”
He said over 4,875 pilgrims are expected to depart the state for this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Also, the Kogi State government has paid over N800 million to secure clearance for 460 intending pilgrims from the state to perform the 2024 holy pilgrimage to Makkah.
