On Wednesday, a bus carrying potential pilgrims from Nasarawa State to Abuja on its way to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj was involved in a traffic incident.
According to report, the event took place in the state’s Keffi Local Government Area close to Kara.
There are still little details surrounding the collision, however it is known that some of the passengers were hurt.
In a related event, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) emphatically denied that it would take part in any activity that would put financial strain on the pilgrims by addressing the reports of an additional $100 cost for the 2023 Hajj journey.
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Due to the shutdown of Sudan’s airspace, NAHCON announced that the Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) had been reduced from $800 to $700 to account for the increased expense of alternate routes.
The Deputy Director of Information & Publications, Mousa Ubandawaki, clarified in a statement: “The Sudan crisis, resulting in the closure of its airspace for security reasons, necessitates our flights to operate via alternate routes through the airspace of Cameroun, Central African Republic (CAR), Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. This change brings additional costs of aviation fuel and overflight charges.”
Ubandawaki stressed the need for a thorough assessment of all feasible options, including consultations with airlines, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and state pilgrim welfare boards.
He said, “The Commission has asked the Federal Government to kindly consider waiving the remaining 35% of aviation charges, which equates to $55. This action will further lessen the additional airfare cost for Nigerian pilgrims.”
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The remaining $195 of the additional $250 negotiated with the airlines, or roughly an additional $117 per pilgrim, will be divided among the 75,000 travelers. The BTA for pilgrims performing the Hajj in 2023 will be reduced to $700 in order to strike a balance without placing an additional burden on the pilgrims’ finances.
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