As intending pilgrims from Kano state are awaiting their first flight to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has saved them from shortage of Basic Travel Allowance, BTA.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON had recently announced that the intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj would be given $500 each as BTA.
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Barring any interventions, Nigerian intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj will receive less than $500 BTA as earlier approved by the National Hajj Commission for the pilgrims of 36 states, FCT and armed forces groups.
A highly placed source who spoke to HAJJ REPORTERS said the $500 BTA was approved by NAHCON based on the exchange rates of N1250 to a dollar – the benchmark which was used to tabulate the 2024 hajj fare.
“CBN is currently selling dollar to us at the rate of N1,520 to a dollar. This shows a difference of N252 between what the pilgrims paid and the amount that the CBN is selling dollar to us. Going by this, each pilgrim can only receive $415 as BTA because we don’t know where to source the differences from”
Speaking at the demonstration of Hajj exercise to the Kano intending pilgrims, held at Hajj camp governor Yusuf noted that if the BTA goes by the initial rate of N1,250/dollar, the state’s intending pilgrims BTA would be below $500 by N121,000 each.
He said the government would now pay the sum of N121,000 to each of the over 3,100 pilgrims, amounting to N376,310,000.
The governor also said the gesture was to enable the pilgrims feel at home in order to perform the Hajj seamlessly.
“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 also announced that the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam would lead the state government’s delegation and the pilgrims to the Hajj this year.
According to the governor, the Deputy Governor would take a good care of the pilgrims in terms of welfare.
He would be with you and take care of you. In terms of feeding, accomodation, transportation, healthcare, everything, the deputy governor is there for you,” the governor stated.
While commending the security agencies for their support, governor Yusuf also lauded the NAHCON for its special interest to Kano Hajj activities.
Earlier the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa warned his staff against laxity.
According to him, the staff were sponsored to the Hajj exercise to serve the guest of Allah not to spend much time at Grand Mosque.
He also thanked the governor for what he described as maximum support to the board for this year’s Hajj activities.
BizPoint