- Sheikh Kabiru Gombe called on the Nigerian government to assist intending Hajj pilgrims amid a significant increase in 2024 Hajj fare.
- He expressed concern that the heightened cost might deter many pilgrims.
- Gombe emphasized the importance of government support, referencing past interventions by former presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Sheikh Kabiru Gombe, a respected Islamic scholar, has called on the Nigerian government and state governors to assist intending Hajj pilgrims, noting that it’s an opportune time for them to experience the advantages of backing a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election.
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He stated this during Ramadan Tafseer on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the increase of 2024 Hajj fare.
The National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, had raised the cost for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia by N1,918,032.91 and highlighted that intending pilgrims must make their payments by March 28, 2024.
NAHCON had earlier set the 2024 Hajj fare at N4.9 million, but later increased it upward by N1.9 million, bringing the total to N6.8 million.
In response to this new development, Malam Gombe expressed concern that the heightened cost of Hajj might prevent numerous intending pilgrims from embarking on this year’s pilgrimage.
He, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu and his deputy Kashim Shettima to look into the situation and balance the payment for the 50,000 intending pilgrims in the country.
“In the current situation, there is a possibility that if the government does not intervene and balance the payments of Nigerians, they will not be able to go to Hajj this year which will be a shame to our Muslim leaders.
“Because it is not the fault of the intending pilgrims, the commission had fixed the amount and some have sold their properties to make the payment, they have nothing left, therefore with this increment, they have no other option than to collect back their money.
“This is not the first time, even former president Obasanjo and Jonathan, who are not Muslim balanced some amount to the intending pilgrims during their time,” he said.
He urged Muslim governors to consider covering the expenses if the Federal Government failed to address the issue.
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“Where are northern governors? Abba Gida-Gida of Kano State, Dikko Raddaa of Katsina, Zulum of Barno, Bago of Niger, Danmodi of Jigawa State, Inuwa of Gombe, and Uba Sani of Kaduna, do something urgently to help your people perform this year’s Hajj,” Gombe added.
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