Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
The Nasarawa State government has suspended its tradition of sponsoring pilgrims to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.
The decision is in response to the financial crunch plaguing the state as a result of dwindling revenue.
Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba, disclosed this at a press conference in Lafia on Friday, explaining that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s decision in that regard was to allow him weigh the prevailing economic situation of the state.
He however revealed that the welfare board has succeeded in retaining the accommodations allotted to pilgrims from the state in the holy land last year as tents and other accommodations meant for Nasarawa pilgrims in the Saudi Arabia were all in good shape.
According to Nalaraba, “the board has approved this year’s Hajj fare at N790,500 per pilgrim which include forms, suitcases, medical screening, uniforms, hijab and Arafat day feeding expenses in order to compliment the National Hajj Commission’s efforts.”
He further explained that the variation in this year’s Hajj fare rate compared to that of the previous year which was N715,000 was occasioned by the high exchange rate of the naira against the dollar.
The Executive Secretary ended by disclosing that a total of 1,682 intending pilgrims had indicated interest for the journey to the holy land, which showed a sharp drop as against the 1,785 pilgrims that eventually performed the exercise last year.
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