The Bauchi State Pilgrims Welfare Board has urged local government Hajji affairs to collect N4.5m as deposits from 2025 hajj pilgrims.
Speaking with newsmen in Bauchi, the Bauchi State executive Secretary, Imam Abdurrahaman Ibrahim Idris, said the fare for the next hajj would be expensive due to the unification of foreign exchange by the federal government.
Abdurrahaman noted that with the dollar currently at N1,560, the Board is not certain what the price for pilgrims would be owing to the fluctuation of forex.
HIS Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad CON (Kauran Bauchi), the Executive Governor of Bauchi state has approved the collection of the sum of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,500,000:00) as minimum initial deposit for 2025 hajj from the state intending pilgrims.
The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Imam Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris made the disclosure while briefing press on preparation for 2025 hajj exercise held in his office. Saying the collection will commence tomorrow Thursday, 11th September, 2024.
He said the Board has no option rather than to peg this amount considering the cost of past 2024 hajj fare which amounted to the sum of over Eight Million Naira. (N8,000,000:00) due to devaluation of Naira against Dollar.
Imam Abdurrahman advised the intending pilgrims to pay above the minimum from N6.5M up to N8M so as to enable them easily settle the final fare when announce by the National Hajj Commissioner of Nigeria NAHCON.
He remainded that all payment are made through Bank tellers, noting that his Board those not entertain cash payments.
On the mode of collection, Imam Abdurrahman stated that those who are willing to perform hajj through Local Governments should meet the Hajj affairs officer at the Local Government secretariat to collect a customised hajj Bank teller to pay the deposit and for the Board’s pilgrims (Bs1), the pay point has been transferred to Jaiz Bank.
The intending pilgrims are therefore requested to enroll themselves under Hajj Saving Scheme HSS at the Jaiz Bank.
Imam Abdurrahman used the forum to appeal to the hajj stakeholders, particularly Civil Society Organisations, Traditional leaders and religious organisations through their sermons and preaching to assist the Board in educating and enlighten the intending pilgrims on the need to pay the deposit on time.
“I must tell you that next year’s hajj is going to be expensive. This is something we must prepare for, starting from tomorrow 11/9/2024. I am not saying we will be able to know the cost today, but what we must be able to know is that the hajj is going to be expensive.
