When I was a kid a few years ago, people who performed the pilgrimage to Mecca were the elderly. However, despite the so-called economic problems Nigeria is currently facing, relatively young Nigerians were expected to pay approximately 8.7 million Nigerian naira, as announced by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board on January 21, 2025.
A couple of days ago, TVC, a Nigerian television station, reported that 50,000 Nigerians gathered on Mount Arafat in Mecca. Since I don’t have any evidence that the pilgrims were sponsored by the government, I strongly believe they used their own funds to perform the pilgrimage.
Many towns will go agog for the Muslim festival. Some state governments have even provided transportation for their citizens to go home to celebrate.
I even understand that hotels near the president’s Lagos home are all filled with guests who want to “greet” the president.
Meanwhile, many will stay hungry during the festival and even after.
Let’s have mercy on the vulnerable among us!
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