Kano State government has announced a subsidy of N500,000 for each of the 2,906 intending pilgrims that have registered with the Kano State Pilgrim Welfare Board (KSPWB) for the 2024 Hajj exercise.

The board said the subsidy is aimed at cushioning the effect of the sudden increase of N1.9 million Hajj fares recently announced by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) which was attributed to instability of foreign exchange rate.

The director-general of the board Alhaji Lami Dan Baffa, made this known on Wednesday in Kano during a media briefing.

Baffa said those to benefit from the Hajj Subsidy are those who have already paid part-Payment to the Board, saying over two thousand nine hundred intending Pilgrims have already made their part payment with the board.

“We consider the current economic hardship people are facing and the increase of Hajj Fares is a great challenge to many intending Pilgrims , that’s why we came up with the Subsidy initiative to alleviate the sufferings of intending Pilgrims.

“Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in 2024 Hajj are by this release advised to proceed and pay the balance of N1.918,032.91 latest by 11:59pm of 28th March, 2024,” he said.

With this subsidy, intending pilgrims from Kano are expected to pay a balance of about N1.4 million.

NAHCON had earlier announced an increase Hajj Fares of N1,918,032.09, making up a total of N6,617,032.91 whereas fresh intending pilgrims are required to pay N8,254,464.74 as the full Hajj fare for this year as required by the NAHCOM.