Hajj 2016: Lagos wants refund over poor air conditioning services

The Lagos State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Agency has called for the refund of the money they paid for the installation of new air conditioning system at its Mina tents since the service was not delivered.
The Secretary of the agency, Okoya Adeniyi Muftau, stated after receiving the delegation of the Amirul hajj, led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at Lagos House, Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Muftau said the state was bitter that after paying for the installation of new air conditioning system, all they saw were piled up air conditioners without being installed, adding that the state had to pay extra to get fans to provide comfort for its pilgrims.
He said: “The major challenge we encountered was the ‎tent at Mina.
“They collected the money from us that they would give us new air conditioners, but we only saw them packed off without being installed.
“So, we had to pay extra to provide fans for our people because the heat was unbearable.
“We are calling for the refund of our money because that is the only way we can be assuaged.
“We are very bitter about it.
“We are calling on them to refund us for the service not delivered and make amends for the next year.”
Muftau, however, commend the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for the arrangement at Jamm’rat, saying it was well done though there was always a room for improvement.‎
Commenting on the visit of the Amirul Hajj delegation, Muftau expressed the delight of the state for the visit, saying they had always looked forward to the visit.
He said: “We are delighted at the visit of the delegation.
“It is a yearly affair now.
“Even last we received the Amirul’s delegation here‎.
“So we have always looked forward to meeting the delegation.”
Speaking on the secret the state’s unique organisation that leaves others trailing behind, Muftau said though the exercise was not a contest, but they had always worked hard to provide the best for their pilgrims.
He said: “Though we are not in contest, we are the defending champion.
“The reward for hard work is more work.
“We want to continue to excel; we want to provide the spring board for other states to step on.
“The secrete ‎is that as an agency, it is our article of faith to always work hard for the benefit of our people because we believe he who fails to plan, plans to fail.