Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has approved the payment of N2.1 billion as subsidy for the state’s 2024 intending Hajj pilgrims.

Each of the state’s 2,290 intending pilgrims will get a subsidy of N959,000 amounting to 50 per cent of increment announced on 2024 Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

The increment per person is N1,918,000.

NAHCON blamed the increment on foreign exchange elements.

It also set March 28, 2024 as the deadline for intending pilgrims to make their payments.

“It is on this note that the governor came in to assist,’’ commissioner for religious affairs and community orientation, Yakubu Hamza told journalists in Bauchi on Friday.

He explained that benefiting intending pilgrims were those who had paid the fare increment announced by NAHCON and those who were yet to pay.

“Those awarded Hajj slots by the state government would also benefit,” he said.

“There are people who already made their payments, but suddenly there was an increment in the Hajj fares,’’ Mr Hamza noted.

(NAN)