President Mohammadu Buhari has announced that the Federal Government will not be sponsoring any delegates to this year’s hajj.

In a statement released by his senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President stressed that decision was not targeted at any specific individual or group. He however noted that the move will save the government about $1million and around N30million in local expenses.

President Buhari added that the government will still undertake its responsibility for providing consular, medical and security services to all Nigerians while on pilgrimage.

He also added that state governments are at liberty to sponsor their own pilgrims if they so desired but the Federal Government will not be involved