The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that more refunds will be disbursed to 2023 pilgrims’ accounts once the commission receives full details of the refunds from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In October, NAHCON received SR 20,716,035.2 in refunds for various services not rendered to pilgrims, but the lack of accompanying details has hindered payment.
“The problem hindering payment of the refunds was unavailability of details accompanying the received funds. Details were not attached on the reasons of the refunds, or whom they were meant for and the amount each pilgrim is to receive,” the commission explained.
So far, NAHCON has received explanations for the disbursement of SR 150 each for the 95,000 pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj, covering electricity supply in Masha’ir locations. This refund has already been released to the States Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and Private Tour Operators for onward dispensation to their respective pilgrims.
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However, the commission is still awaiting clarification on a total of SR6,466,035.15. To address this, NAHCON has written several letters to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah requesting details, and the Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, led a delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to seek clarification.
“The Commission had written several letters to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah requesting for details in order to hand over the monies to the rightful owners. Besides, during the Chairman’s recent trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he led a delegation on a follow-up visit to the Ministry and other relevant establishment seeking clarification over the rightful beneficiaries of the refunds and the amount due to each person,” the statement read.
Professor Saleh assured the affected pilgrims and their respective officials that as soon as the commission receives full details of refunds, the remaining amount will be disbursed immediately and transparently. “As soon as the Commission receives full details of refunds; vis-a-vis beneficiaries, reasons for the refunds and the amount accruable to each beneficiary, the remaining amount will be disbursed immediately and transparently too,” he said.
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