The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria says the Federal Government has not given foreign exchange waiver to Nigerian pilgrims performing the hajj this year.

The commission’s Head of Media, Alhaji Uba Mana, made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, following reports making the rounds that the Federal Government had given foreign exchange waiver to Nigerians performing pilgrims.

The statement said: “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria wishes to draw the attention of the public that the Federal Government has not given foreign exchange waiver to Nigerian pilgrims performing this year’s hajj.

“If there is one thing that the Government did for the Nigerian pilgrims, it was to allow the exchange rate prevalent at the time of payment of Hajj fare in February when the current flexible exchange rate was not in action to subsist.

“It is therefore wrong and mischievous for some persons or media organisations to peddle unfounded claims that the Federal Government gave the Nigerian pilgrims a waiver.”

The Presidency had earlier clarified the concessions of foreign exchange rate of N197 to one dollar for the 2016 intending pilgrims to Hajj and Jerusalem.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the policy had been approved before the current foreign exchange regime came into effect.

He also said the Central Bank of Nigeria had confirmed the approval, and he wonder why the apex bank had not notified the public before earlier.

 Source: EagleOnline