The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has granted an additional 100 Saudi Riyals as “pocket money” to each of the state’s 1,868 Hajj pilgrims. The pocket money comes a few days after the governor gave the pilgrims $186,800 to make up for the shortfall in their Travel Basic Allowance for the Hajj pilgrimage. The gift of the additional 100 Saudi Riyals “pocket money” was revealed in a report shared on the official website of the Lagos State Government on Thursday. According to the report, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Layode, made the announcement while addressing the pilgrims at Alsaad Flower Hotel 2, Misfalla, Makkah, after his arrival on Tuesday. The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government also said it paid N90bn to subsidise this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, against the backdrop of the prevailing forex crisis in the country.

Source: Punch June 07, 2024 21:23 UTC