By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Sokoto state Bureau De Change Operators Chairman, (BDC), Alhaji Aliyu Sahabi Yar-Abba has appealed to the federal government to subsidy pilgrimages by twenty per cent for both Muslims and Christians in the country.
Speaking to a group of reporters in Sokoto weekend, Yar-Abba said if implemented the gesture will make pilgrimages more affordable for Nigerians.
Accordingly, the BDC chairman said the federal government should approve a much lower dollar exchange rate for the prospective pilgrims and not N 305.
He further noted that ” this is why the fares for the 2017 Muslim pilgrimage soared to over N 1.52million, hence, on the high side.”
He also observed that the injection of millions of dollars into the foreign exchange market in the country by the Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN), had helped in stabilizing the market.
Yar’Abba also noted that the development was also boosted by the increment of the weekly supply of dollars to the operators from between 5,000 to 10,000 dollars, per week.
He however said:” This has made the dollar to hover between N 362 and N 364, as we get routine supllies from the commercial banks at N 350.
” The bank should be more proactive and sterner in terms of monitoring of the activities of the commercial banks and the BDCs.
” I must also caution our members against conducting any illegal activities like dealing in faking currencies or aiding and abetting money laundering.”
The chairman while commenting on the security and anti graft fight in the state and at the centre, noted that the developmental strides in taming of insecurity and the sustained fight against corruption by the federal government has remarkably restored confidence in the citizenry and the system.
He also stressed the for more efforts to be made by the federal government in turning around the nation’s economy while
soliciting for prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery and his safe return to the country.
soliciting for prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari’s quick recovery and his safe return to the country.
He also commended the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on his efforts at ensuring stability in the country.
