The N90bn Hajj Pilgrim subsidy by the Federal government had sparked controversy from Nigerians, with asking if it is rationed to subsidize spiritual exercise at a time more than half of the populace is facing hunger and starvation. Ogbodo Ozioma Favour writes that contempt and backlash have tailed the action by the government
Economic Realities
The prevailing economic challenges, hardship, and crisis has resulted in acute hunger, poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, insecurity, food inflation and a myriad of pressing financial burdens, the Government allocates funds towards religious pilgrimage amidst these challenges.
The National Hajji Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in a statement released a budget for Hajji fare at $5, 692.25 with a market rate of N1,474.62 depending on the market flexibility which is a total of N8,393,905.7 millions per head count and in 2023.
The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission announced the cost of pilgrim exercise to Rome and Greece at N3,000,000 per head count this juxtaposed with the cost of a Healthy diet which according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) cost N1,035 per adult per day in April depending on the geographical terrain and market forces.
This shows, a family of six is spending N6,210 with a monthly income of N30,000 and a daily wage income of N1000 when calculated coupled with the whooping increase of food inflation rate to 33.69% in April.
The above statistics depict the dire economic situation of Nigerians which resonates with the inability of Nigerians to meet up with daily cost of health diet which will result in acute hunger and malnutrition and we are left with the question of the economy important of religious pilgrimage to the masses.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima stated during the flagging off of 2024 inaugural flights of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia at the International Airport Birinin Kebbi.
N90 Billion for Hajj Subsidy
“The president approved the release of N90 billion to subsidize the cost of pilgrimage for this year’s Hajji,
“Therefore, I urge you not to relent in praying for the success of this administration, for the peace and progress of our country that we are all proud to call our mother land”.
Hajji is a Muslim pilgrimage observance of specific acts in places in and around the city of Mecca in Arabia at the end of each Muslim year during the twelfth lunar month of Zhul-Hajji.
According to Islamic teachings on Aluka, Hajji is one of the basic pillars of Islam, it’s an inclusive conference of all Muslims, a season of commerce, in which souls and souls are liquidated and goods and goods are promoted. It is a promotion of Islamic economy where the pilgrims are required to perform the ritual of Hajji. He uses his money on commuting, buying food, drinks, clothes, sacrifice and cost of accommodation.
4.4 million People In North Eastern Nigeria Are Struggling with Food Insecurity
The World Food Programme (WFP) report spotlights the acute hunger in most states sponsoring Prilgmage journeys. It is estimated that 4.4 million people in North Eastern Nigeria are struggling with food Insecurity and 37% poverty people Nationwide live below poverty with 2.2 million people internally displaced in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. 26.5 million people across the country are currently struggling with acute hunger.
According to an official statement from NAHCON, Borno, Adamawa, Yola,Taraba and Yobe states had over 5,492 pilgrims, northern sub-total of 36,261 pilgrims, Southern sub-total of 6,310 pilgrims, while the remaining 3,384 pilgrims were from Hajji savings scheme and others, making a total of 51,447 pilgrims.
In lieu of this, five states that subsidize Hajji amidst swallowing debt Kogi, kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kano States subsidize Hajji fares for 10,260 intending pilgrims for the 2024 exercise, with a combined sum of N9,120,997,990 billion.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau Statistics (NBS) on Nigerian Domestic and Foreign Debt, it was highlighted that Jigawa state debt score at N43,.13 billion, Kebbi state at N60.94 bilion, Borno State at US$ 1.26 billion and Taraba state at US$ 21.92 million and total of N87.38 trillion (US$113.42 billion) in Q2 2023 Nigeria’s external and domestic debt stock.
Inadequate Health Budget
Furthermore, there is an inadequate health budget report by the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) showing that the Federal Government budgeted the sum of N125, 737,146,031 for Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). This is a 4.47% proposed budget expenditure. With an increasing population of 223 million, this amounts to the federal allocation amount per citizen for health is N6,831 and some of 3,492,698,500.8611 per state with only 5% of the national population enrolled in NHIS.
N60 Billion for Students’ Loan Programme
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu stated that the Government budgeted N60 billion for students’ loan programme with over 1.2 million undergraduates students in the federal tertiary institutions across the country according to the director of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer which shows each student is getting a sum of N50,000 if every student applied for students’ loan.
This highlights the government’s priorities and fiscal responsibility amidst economic hardship and instability.
Atedo Peterside
An economist from Politics Today, on a national TV station, Atedo Peterside criticises the economic indiscipline of the Government concerning subsidizing religious pilgrimage amidst inflation.
“The overload and action of fiscal policy trying to do away with all affordable subsidies be thrown gladly is on the right track. But what is on the wrong track is the huge fiscal indiscipline that comes up from the top every now and then”.
Recommendation
The Government amidst economic challenges can accommodate Hajji by encouraging private sponsorship, means-testing subsidies, and channel Hajji funds to human capital development addressing health discrepancies in unserved areas of the country for health is wealth.
