President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been called upon to intervene and address the high cost of the 2024 Hajj, occasioned by the different regimes of rates of exchange given to the tour operators and the state pilgrims board.
Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Oyinlomo Danmole, made the call in an open letter entitled: ‘Passionate appeal to Mr President to intervene on the high cost of 2024 Hajj’ addressed to President Tinubu, dated March 21st, 2024, copy of which was made available to newsmen, saying that the development had made it difficult for private tour operators to keep their clients.
Danmole, while making the appeal, noted that the private operators who had earlier collected a deposit of N5 million for the Hajj exercise while state pilgrims took a deposit of N4.5million, got a letter from National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday this week, demanding that a total amount of N5,013,473.33 was to be paid for services to be rendered by Saudi authorities, including accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.
According to the former commissioner, the rate of exchange used in coming to the above cost was based on N1,625.35 to $1 whereas the rate of exchange from Monday till today ranges between N1,400 and N1,450, declaring that there was no transparency in the rate used for state pilgrims which he said rumour had it that it was at the rate of N850 to $1.
He, however, noted that the unexpectedly high rate of exchange that NAHCON based its calculations on would affect the private operators negatively and be capable of disrupting the holy pilgrimage and sending them out of business.
Besides, Danmole also urged President Tinubu to intervene on the 4-day ultimatum given to tour operators, saying that he should ask those concerned to extend the deadline by one more week to enable operators to sensitise their pilgrims.
He expressed the belief that the president would do this “and put succour and smiles in the face of the private operators.”
The statement reads, “Mr President sir, Passionate appeal to Mr President to intervene on the high cost of 2024 Hajj.
“I am through this medium appealing to Your Excellency to intervene in the process of costing this year’s Hajj operation.
“As a result of different regimes of rates of exchange given the tour operators and the State Pilgrims Board, it has become difficult for private tour operators to keep their clients.
“The private operators who had earlier collected a deposit of N5m for exercise while State Pilgrims took a deposit of N4.5m, got a letter from NAHCON on Monday that a total amount of N5,013,473.33 is to be paid for services to be rendered by Saudi authorities and Accommodation in Makkah and Madinah. The rate of exchange used in coming to the above cost was based on the rate of N1,625.35 to $1. Suffice to say that the rate of exchange from Monday till today is between N1,400 and N1,450.
“There is no transparency in the rate used for state pilgrims which rumour had it that it is at the rate of N850 to a $1.
“That unexpectedly high rate of exchange the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria based their calculations on will affect the private operators negatively and capable of disrupting the Holy pilgrimage and sending them out of business.
“The President should intervene on the issue of a 4-day deadline given to operators and extend it to one more week to be able to sensitize their pilgrims.
“Your Excellency Sir, I am sure that you will intervene and put succour and smiles in the face of the private operators.
“I am appealing to the President to look into the high level of disparity in the exchange rate regime between the state-sponsored pilgrims and those of the private tour operators.”
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