The Nigerian government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is set to spend not less than 7billion Naira in sponsoring all the Muslim pilgrims in the country to 2016 Hajj in Mecca. In a statement released by the Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday, the CBN had on the order of the federal government mandated all authorised FOREX dealers or Banks in the country to sell Pilgrims Travelling Allowance (PTA) at a subsidised rate of N197 to $1, to all interested 2016 Hajj Pilgrims in the country. The statement reads-
“Each pilgrim is entitled to purchase a minimum of $750.00 and maximum of US$1,000.00 as PTA. The Federal Government has approved that intending pilgrims are to be sold the PTA at a concessionary exchange rate of N197.00 to the US dollar.
“No commission shall be charged by the banks for the sale of the PTA to the intending pilgrims. The Central Bank of Nigeria shall sale the PTA to the designated banks in Lagos and Abuja and the accounts of the respective banks shall be debited as soon as the funds are disbursed...”
President Muhammadu Buhari has come under severe criticisms from the masses as he has been accused of lavishing the country's wealth on his religious brethren at a time the country is profusely sliding into recession. President Buhari has also been accused of defiling his earlier promise that his government will not in any way interfere with issues and procedures, financially or otherwise relating to pilgrimages in the country.
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