Nigerian pilgrims to receive ₦67,500 refund each for failed Hajj services

Pilgrims at the plain of Arafat during previous Hajj.

95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who performed the 2023 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia will receive SR150 (₦67,500) each, as a refund for services paid for but not rendered by Saudi service providers.

Similarly, pilgrims who traveled through private operators for the 2022 Hajj, camped on Field Officer 18 at ‘Masha’ir,’ will also get a refund of SR62,602 (₦28,170,900) from providers who could not render services paid for.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday disclosed that details of the refunds have been received, and preparation for onward disbursement to states and operators has reached an advanced stage.

Recall that pilgrims lamented the acute shortage of bed spaces, inadequate folding, and overcrowding during the 2023 Hajj, especially at the Masha’ir, caused by the poor planning system of the providers.

Discontented with the situation, NAHCON, under the leadership of Barr. Zikrullah Hassan, protested and sought refunds for monies paid for services that could not be rendered to the pilgrims.

In continuation of engagement with tour operators on Monday, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, who chaired the virtual meeting, disclosed new developments regarding the 2025 Hajj.

Elegushi announced that the Saudi government has further slashed the number of tour operators for next year’s Hajj to 10 instead of 20 lead companies as earlier slated.

According to the commissioner in charge of operations, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj has equally stipulated that each company must be ready to register a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims before they can be considered for a Hajj visa.

A statement by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at the Commission, said the Commissioner of Operations informed members of the tour operators that NAHCON has approved the option of honoring bank guarantees as payment of the N40 million caution deposit for the 2025 Hajj.

He said, “In view of the above, any operator who wishes to make the payment through Bank Guarantee but has already made a cash deposit is invited to request the collection of the earlier deposit in order to present the Bank Guarantee.

“Furthermore, the registration deadline was extended to 11:59 p.m. Friday, 11th October, to accommodate registration through the Bank Guarantee or cash deposit.

“Due to time and procedural constraints, members wishing to take the Bank Guarantee option can raise a Bank Draft of the Caution Deposit amount and retrieve it after the Bank Guarantee is ready. The retrieval can be done even after the registration deadline. The advice is necessary due to time limitations.”

On the controversial N17 billion 2024 Hajj Caution Deposits being claimed by tour operators, the NAHCON commissioner insisted no such amount was received. He, however, explained that the Commission only received N2.75 billion from 110 companies that registered for the 2024 Hajj.

“The amount included a rollover of One Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira from the previous year. From the amount, 30 companies requested refunds amounting to Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira which has been paid. The balance still in the custody of the Commission, accruing to undecided PTOs, is N750m,” Elegushi added.

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