Govt Has No Business Subsidising Religious Pilgrimages – Bashir El-Rufai

Bashir El-Rufai

Bashir El-Rufai, the son of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has opined that with the recent economic crisis, the government have no business subsidising religious pilgrimages.

Some civil society groups have urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in Nigeria’s preparation for the 2024 Hajj by subsidising the fare for pilgrims after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, announced an increment in the 2024 Hajj fare.

Subsequently, Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf approved a subsidy of N500,000 each for 2,096 intending Muslim pilgrims from the state for the 2024 Hajj exercise.

Reacting, El-Rufai said subsidising religious pilgrimages shouldn’t be a priority for any government, especially considering the current economic situation in the country.

Bashir El-Rufai wrote on his X handle: “Governments should have no business subsidising religious pilgrimages sha. Especially not in this current economic climate.”