The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has frowned on the hike of the 2017 hajj fare and blamed government involvement in hajj matters for the high cost of the trip.
The council demanded that hajj matters should be handed over to it, noting that the government could handle the consular and security aspects of it.
The NSCIA in a statement on Monday in Abuja by its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, stressed that whatever concession was given any other Nigerian travellers, including non-Muslim pilgrims should also be accorded to pilgrims to Mecca.
Abubakar stated that the committee set up by the NSCIA under the leadership of Gen. A.B. Mamman (retd.) to work out the modus operandi of transfer had not been given the required support by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
He warned that hajj should not be commercialised at the expense of the masses “who struggle to fulfil their religious obligation, hence the need to explore the cheapest cost for a comfortable and safe-hajj performance.”
The Sultan said, “We have observed with keen interest the controversy on the hike of 2017 hajj fares as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria should hand off hajj matters (except consular and security) to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. It is government involvement that is responsible for the high cost for obvious reasons.”
The Muslim leader noted that hajj fare could be less than than that if all parties were genuinely consulted for an appropriate solution and strategy.
Abubakar added that NAHCON Act was due for an urgent amendment “to remove the wrong notion that Muslims rely on national resources for the performance of their religious obligation.”
