The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has appealed to the affected pilgrims and the larger public on the stalemate preventing the Commission from releasing the remaining monies lodged in its account.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday by its Assistant Director, Information and Publication Division, Fatima Sanda Usara.
The statement, which Usara signed on behalf of the Chairman, further explained that the Commission is still “awaiting explanations of these refunds without which the Hajj House cannot make payments”.
Recall that in October 2024, NAHCON acknowledged receipt of refunds from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for various services not rendered to pilgrims of previous unspecified Hajj seasons.
The Commission then explained that the problem hindering payment of the refunds was unavailability of details accompanying the received funds.
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The Hajj body then indicated that details were not attached on the reasons of the refunds, or whom they were meant for and the amount each pilgrim is to receive.
NAHCON in the statement, pointed out that for the benefit of clearing any doubts, it received in five tranches SR 20,716, 035.2 as various categories of unexplained refunds.
Usara disclosed: “Of these total, NAHCON received explanations only over the disbursement of SR 150 each for the 95,000 pilgrims that participated in the 2023 Hajj.
“This amount covers matters relating to electricity supply in Masha’ir locations.
“The refund has since been released to the States Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and Private Tour Operators for onward dispensation to their respective pilgrims.
“Hence NAHCON is still anticipating narration on a total of SR6m,466,035.15.”
The Commission stated that in pursuit of further disbursement of the remaining refunds NAHCON 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.
It said: “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 establishments seeking clarification over the rightful beneficiaries of the refunds and the amount due to each person.
“Therefore, of the above quoted amount, SR 14, 250,000 has already been dispensed to pilgrims under the state quota and Private Tour Operators as compensation for electricity supplied in Masha’ir, while the Commission is still awaiting explanation for the SR6m,466,035.15.
“Consequent upon the above, Professor Saleh assures the affected pilgrims and their respective officials that 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.”
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