NAHCON Refunds N820mn to 2017 Pilgrims

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria released the sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty Million, Two hundred and Eighty-three, Nine Hundred and Sixty-five, Naira (N820,283,965) as Refunds to States Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board and Agencies for 2017 Hajj operations.

The refunds consist of about 181 Million Naira for Pilgrims and officials of States that could not Travel for the Hajj and 209 Million Naira being refundable deposits from the Ministry of Hajj. It also consists of refunds for catering services not rendered or poorly rendered for which the Commission did not pay the service providers  to the tune of  46.1 Million Naira.

Other refunds consist of sums for poorly rendered tent-C services, faulty cooling systems at Arafat for which the total sum of 278 Million Naira was demanded collected by the Commission from the organization responsible. The refunds also comprise of N1.5 Million Naira for states that did not receive Zam-zam water.

The refund, which was done in two batches, witnessed eleven (11) State Pilgrims Boards receiving a total of Four Hundred and One Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-one thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-eight naira (N401,291,658.41) in December, 2017 while thirteen (13) Pilgrims Boards and Agencies received Four Hundred and Eighteen Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Seven Naira (N418,992,307.77) as the second batch in 2018 after reconciliations.

The concerned Pilgrims are advised to check with their respective state Pilgrims Boards and Agencies for collection. The refund exercise will be monitored by NAHCON and appropriate security agencies nationwide. NAHCON also directs that any refunds not collected should be returned to the Commission.

Adamu Hassan Abdullahi

Media Relations Unit.