President Tinubu Subsidizes 2024 Hajj with N90 Billion

President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, announced a subsidized 2024 Hajj with N90 billion as he flagged off the inaugural airlift from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the event at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, Vice President Shettima urged intending pilgrims to pray for the country’s peace and unity while complying with the regulations in Saudi Arabia to maintain the integrity of their Hajj.

Shettima revealed that President Tinubu allocated N90 billion to cut the cost of the pilgrimage this year, considering economic challenges and currency fluctuations that made setting the final fare difficult.

He emphasized Tinubu’s commitment to controlling the currency devaluation, which eventually contributed to reducing the pilgrimage costs, aligning with the Renewed Hope government’s value of religious pilgrimage’s positive impact on believers’ conduct and societal issues.

In a reaction on social media, a user criticized Saudi Arabia for profiting from Hajj expenses from Nigeria while suggesting Nigeria receives only support for Islamic terrorism.

The user’s remark sparked a debate on the nation’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and raised questions about the benefits of such international agreements.