Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has commended the Kogi State Hajj Commission for securing clearance for 460 intending pilgrims from the state to perform the 2024 pilgrimage to Makkah.
Ododo gave the commendation in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lokoja by his Special Advisor on media, Ismaila Isah.
He alsk expressed happiness that the state was the first in the country to effect full contribution to the Hajj Savings Scheme by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
Ododo gave the commendation following reports by the Kogi State Hajj Commission over increment in the 2024 Hajj fares and how Kogi state managed to secure subsidy for its pilgrims on account of the 100 per cent contribution to the Hajj Savings Scheme by the pilgrims through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
The Governor who expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations made by the state Hajj Commission, praised the immediate past administration of Alhaji Yahaha Bello for approving the participation of the state in the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme two years ago.
Ododo stressed that his administration will sustain and consolidate on the gains of the scheme.
Governor Ododo also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention by providing subsidy for Nigerian Muslim pilgrims who were distressed by the increase in the 2024 Hajj fares.
He assured that his administration will continue to partner with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to ease the burden of pilgrims from Kogi State through the contributory Hajj Savings Scheme in the state.
Increase in the 2024 Hajj fare caused by foreign exchange differentials resulted in over 1.9 million Naira extra charges per pilgrim in Nigeria with only Kogi State now fully cleared of the over 800 million Naira that should have been paid by its 460 pilgrims now set to perform this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
