.9,284 Nigerians so far airlifted to Saudi Arabia
As the value of the naira further plummets, Governor Abba Yusuf has announced N376 million intervention to augment the shortfall in Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) of pilgrims embarking on this year’s Hajj.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 9,284 pilgrims have so far been airlifted from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the 2024 Hajj.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had announced a $500 BTA for Nigerian pilgrims at the N1,250 to the United States (U.S.) dollar.
The prevailing volatility of the exchange rate, which further pushed the dollar to over N1,500, reduced the approved $500 BTA to $415 per pilgrim.
Disclosing the intervention, yesterday, Governor Yusuf explained that Kano contingents should be issued the full $500 BTA, regardless of the fluctuation in the exchange rate. He said the gesture was to relieve the pilgrims of the financial burden while enabling them to seamlessly perform spiritual experience.
According to him, the government will be responsible for the N121,000 difference to each of the over 3,100 pilgrims, amounting to N376,310,000.
Yusuf had earlier released N500 million to subsidise the pilgrims’ fees when NAHCON announced an additional N1.9 million Hajj fare.
The governor stated, “If the BTA goes by the initial rate of N1,250, it would be short for the pilgrims. Now, we have decided to intervene. I hereby announce the top-up of N 376,310,000. I advise you to utilise this BTA, so that you will not be stranded in the holy land,”
During the physical demonstration at Kano Hajj Camp, Yusuf announced the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, as leader of the state’s delegation for the exercise.
The outbound of the intending pilgrims, which commenced with an inaugural flight last Wednesday from Kebbi State, has reached 22 flight operations from across six centres onboard Flynas, a Saudi-based airline, Max Air and Air Peace.
The first batch of Nigerian pilgrims has arrived in Makka after completing their four-day mandatory stay in Madina.
