By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“It is strange that the two-hajj fares announced so far by NAHCON has not announced provisions for BTA for intending pilgrims even after another announcement on the increment of the fare from the N4.899 million to N6.617 million”.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards at state level and Hajj agencies have been asked to inform all Hajj 2024 intending pilgrims how much they will receive as Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).
The Independent Hajj Reporters made this appeal via a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Muhammed, in Abuja, dated 1st April 2024 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Monday.
According to the statement, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) said it had become necessary to draw the attention of NAHCON and state Hajj agencies to the fact that the 2024 Hajj fare they announced so far did not indicate the amount that would be given to intending pilgrims as BTA, contrary to usual practices over the years.
It described the BTA as an allowance of foreign currency that a Nigerian citizen, in this case, the pilgrim to Saudi Arabia is allowed to draw from a Nigerian bank when travelling abroad.
It is a part of the country’s foreign exchange controls and such money is added to the Hajj fare components, said the CSO.
“Traditionally, the announcement of Hajj fare by NAHCON always comes with a provision of Basic Travelling Allowance for each intending pilgrim. This is meant to allow pilgrims to prepare their minds on how much they will receive and make their financial plans accordingly.
“For example, the 2023 Hajj pilgrims paid an average of N2.9m inclusive of $800 Basic Travel Allowance. Hajj fare computations consist of local and foreign service components with Basic Travelling Allowance for pilgrims.
“However, the previous board of NAHCON later slashed the 2023 Hajj BTA to $700 owing to what they described as differentials in airfare tickets. This year’s hajj fare was announced without stating how much is the BTA even when additional hajj fare was announced,” IHR said
The group said the BTA is given to pilgrims on the day of their departure to Saudi Arabia as pocket expense funds to enable pilgrims to take care of certain financial needs while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The IHR added that “it is strange that the two-hajj fares announced so far by NAHCON has not announced provisions for BTA for intending pilgrims even after another announcement on the increment of the fare from the N4.899 million to N6.617 million”.
“We are calling on NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agencies to immediately announce how much is the 2024 hajj BTA to intending pilgrims,” it said.
