A Kano-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Tijjani Bala Kalarawi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce the 2026 hajj fare by half to ease the burden on Nigerian Muslims planning to perform the pilgrimage.
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Speaking to reporters in Kano, Sheikh Kalarawi reacted to claims circulating on social media that the federal government had allegedly approved a 50% subsidy for Christian pilgrims traveling to Israel. He said it would amount to discrimination if Muslims were not given the same consideration.
“If it is true that Christians are receiving subsidy for pilgrimage, then Muslims should not be left out because both Christians and Muslims are Nigerians,” he said.
The cleric urged Northern lawmakers and political leaders to intervene and ensure that Muslims also benefit from similar government support. He stressed that the high cost of hajj risks shutting out poor Nigerians who view the pilgrimage as a major religious obligation.
His appeal comes amid growing concerns among Nigerian Muslims over the rising expenses of hajj, which many say has made participation increasingly difficult for low-income earners.
