Hajj 2018: Group wants reduction in deposit for seats

From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

A civil society organization, Independent Hajj Reporters has called on States Pilgrims Boards to reduce the minimum deposit for 2018 hajj fare to N300, 000 per month to allow low income earners cope with the Installment payment.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed and Publicity Secretary Abubakar Mahmoud.
The group said, “we are of the believe that spreading 2018 hajj fare packages into staggered and affordable monthly remittance will give intending pilgrims the much-needed monetary flexibility to pay for the hajj fare without serious financial strain on their meager incomes.”
NAHCON and States Pilgrims Boards had earlier agreed that intending pilgrims who wish to perform 2018 hajj shall commence by paying N300, 000 per month in four months to make up to N1.2 million naira pending when the official hajj seat package is released by the government.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board said every intending pilgrims must deposit 800,000 naira pending final announcement of seat fare by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
Director Operations of the Board, Lawan Yakubu who disclosed this on Tuesday warned against registration by proxy .
He added that pregnant women and elderly would equally not be registered.
“For the elderly men and women they need to be accompanied by able bodied relatives because Hajj is a rigorous activity. Pregnant women too wouldn’t not be registered as ordered by NAHCON,” he said.
The Director also mentioned a new policy by Saudi Authorities that said old timers pilgrims would pay additional 2000 Saudi Riyals before they would be allowed to register for the 2018 hajj.