*Photo: Malam Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta*
The attention of Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team (NHMST) has been drawn to an unbalanced, lopsided and myopic write-up that lacks credibility by one Mubarak Dayyabu, of unknown address and identity who wrongly and out of self-centredness alleged that NAHCON, has perfected plans to overcharge 2025 intending pilgrims of over 13 Billion naira following the recent announcement of this year’s hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), under the stewardship of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman
Mubarak Dayyabu was quick to jump to a conclusion without actually having dug deep to unravel the facts and reasons behind NAHCON’s resolution concerning the 2025 hajj fare, but just finalised that NAHCON is set to defraud intending pilgrims by using N1600 to a dollar as forex benchmark in calculating this year’s Hajj fare, whereas at the moment the exchange rate is nothing above N1548 to 1 dollar.
It is Unfortunate that, the writer of that misleading piece did not make any research as required of any practicing journalist to cross-check facts and figures before going to press.
Additionally, it is evidently clear, Mubarak did not take time to get the necessary clarification from officials of NAHCON on why they decided to peg the exchange rate at N1600 to 1 USD rather than at its current market value of N1548 to 1 dollar. Surely the approach adopted by Mubarak Dayyabu has in totality gone against the ethics and principles of journalism which underscores objectivity and fairness.
Dayyabu should, therefore, refrain from indulging in issues he lacks adequate knowledge and information about.
To set the record straight, it is a known fact that the exchange rate in our country has been over the years unstable due to some economic factors, and that could be the reason why the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON) decided to maintain a middle stage position between the highest and the lowest possible exchange rate, in order to forestall a situation where intending pilgrims would be asked to bring additional money at a time they could not possibly meet up, this might be the wisdom behind NAHCON’s decision to use N1600 benchmark.
Because, it will be much easier to refund than to ask for further increment of money from pilgrims at the ninth hour.
It is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians who keenly and invariably follow and observe the events taking place in NAHCON, that barely a month ago or so, over 5 billion naira was refunded to 2023 pilgrims for services that were either unsatisfactorily rendered or not enjoyed at all. Where was Mubarak Dayyabu then?
*Ibrahim Abubakar,
National Coordinator, Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team, writes from Kaduna.