2022 Hadj: Gov’t Clarifies Cost For Pilgrims

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2022 Hadj: Gov’t Clarifies Cost For Pilgrims

A communique issued by the Minister of Territorial Administration justifies the close to FCFA 3.3 mi

03 juin 2022 17:38

T he Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji who also doubles as the President of the National Hadj Commission, has laid to rest the controversy that surrounded this year’s cost for transport and logistics for Cameroonian Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In a press release issued on May 30, Minister Atanga Nji stated emphatically that the cost for Hadj 2022 stands at FCFA 3, 294,000 for Cameroonian Muslim faithful who will be undertaking the religious expedition to Saudi Arabia. This is contrary to wild rumours that intoxicated the social media and other platforms on very exorbitant cost of FCFA 3.9 and 4.2 million.

The President of the Hadj Commission further adds that the cost for Hadj is calculated based on certain number of services validated by the Ministry of Hadj and Oumra in Saudi Arabia. The services, the release indicates, includes lodging, restauration, visa fees, insurance, amongst others. It also incorporates interurban transport charges (Medina-Makkah, Makkah-Mina, Mina-Arfa, Arfa-Mouzdalifa and Makkah-Jeddah). The release further reminds the public that the cost of Hadj is not unique with other countries, explaining that some governments accord subvention to enable more pilgrims to travel to Mecca. However, the subvention is not obligatory. For the case of Cameroon, the MINAT boss explained, special negotiations to benefit pilgrims were carried out by the Minister on instructions of the Head of State. In this light, the cost for flight ticket was reduced, pilgrims can t...