Senate approves N200 exchange rate for Hajj
The Senate yesterday recommended N200 per dollar exchange rate for this year’s hajj.
The move aims to crash the N1.5 million fare announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Our correspondent reports that the recommendation was against the N305 official exchange rate.
The resolution followed consideration of report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu (APC, Oyo).
Senate said the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency extend concession on the Naira-Dollar exchange to NAHCON and Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).
“Therefore, the committee strongly recommends the concession of N200 to a dollar for hajj to bring down the cost to a bearable level,” it stated.
Other resolutions adopted are:”NAHCON should expedite action on the establishment of Hajj Savings Scheme, in compliance with section 7(1and 2) of NAHCON act, for all intending pilgrims to make it possible for Nigerian pilgrims to save for the annual Islamic rites.
“NAHCON must be made to ensure improved feeding services for the Nigerian contingents at all designated points. Similarly, service providers must be made to provide meals based on the choice of menu of the different states of the federation.
“The Amirul Hajj position should be restored to serve as check and balance for NAHCON and to improve the country’s relationship with Saudi Arabia Authorities.”
Presenting the report of her committee, Sunmonu said 98 percent of the entire hajj operations were dollar driven.
“During the 2016 Hajj operation, the exchange rate was N197 to $1 as issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) based on approval by the Federal Government. In the current year, the Naira has suffered a serious setback and exchange in the interbank rate of N365 to a dollar. Nonetheless, the CBN issued a benchmark rate of N305 to a dollar for the hajj operation, as approved by the Federal Government” she said.
Senate President Bukola Saraki said aside the resolution on exchange rate; all others were for 2018 saying “The time has come to stop those, who have turned hajj into a moneymaking venture. They should look for other areas for the business and not hajj.”