Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation that monitors and reports about hajj activities in the country, has raised an alarm over a fake 2019 hajj fare package being circulated in the social media.

“Our social media surveillance team has brought to our notice a fake 2019 hajj fare package”, said Ibrahim Mohammed, the National Coordinator of IHR, in a statement on Wednesday.

The post which is being shared alleged that the 2019 hajj fare is N1.8 million, while others are posting a six-item hajj fare template as opposed to the 23 items in the original hajj fare templates often in use.

He said as journalists and an organisation that has been reporting hajj/umrah activities, “we, therefore, call on members of the public to be wary of fake news and instead visit the website of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), or Hajj Reporters’ social media handles for any announcement on the 2019 hajj fare.”

“This year’s hajj fare has not been announced and we are yet to understand where the authors of N1.8 million hajj fare got their news from,” the statement said.

Alhaji Mohammed also quoted a verse in the Holy Quran which frowns against spreading fake news and its consequences:

“O you who believe! If a Faasiq (liar-evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done* Al-Qura'an 49:6.”

News Express reports that in 2017, an anonymous post went viral on Social Media bordering on the Hajj Fares announced by NAHCON with the authors insinuating foul-play.

The Commission explained and put the matter to rest. However, the same posts surfaced in 2018 and again, clarifications were made by the commission.

“To reinforce the fact that it was a case of fake news, it should be noted that the 2019 hajj packages are yet to be announced and 2018 hajj fare is less than N1.5 million,” he added.

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