Imam Ousman Jah, chairman, National Hajj Commission (NHC), has said this year's hajj package is caused by global issue, adding that Covid-19 is one of the factors that has contributed immensely.

Imam Jah was speaking recently with this reporter at his office along the Bertil Harding Highway.

He said this year's hajj has different packages, and all these packages are in the hands of the operators. Whether it is high or not, he said, depends on the service that the operators provide.

He added that the National Hajj Commission shows its concern about these packages, and it went further to scrutinise all packages to see what is necessary and realised that the office did a good job in that regard.

According to him, countries like America and Europe have a new system this year which they did not have before. "So due to that system, many of them withdraw from going to Mecca, so all what people are talking about these hajj packages are social media issues and they spread many information that are baseless."

"The cost of some hotels in Saudi is even more than the whole Gambian package," he said, adding that his office is very keen to protect the rights of pilgrims and they would not allow any operator to take advantage of these pilgrims.