States and others spend over N136.5bn on Hajj

At least N136.5bn was spent on Hajj in 2017 by state governments and individuals despite the current recession in the country, Saturday PUNCH investigation has revealed.

According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, no fewer than 91,000 Nigerians had arrived in Saudi Arabia out of the over 1.7 million foreign pilgrims in the country to perform this year’s Hajj. Meanwhile, the average Hajj fare approved by NAHCON to states for each traveller is N1.5m.

At an average fare of N1.5m, 91,000 Nigerians would have spent a minimum of N136.5bn on the exercise, with part of it coming from public purse provided by state governments.

UCJ, UNILORIN.