CSO Urges NAHCON to Set Up Committee for Monitoring 2023 Hajj Refunds
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organization focused on promoting transparency within the Nigerian Hajj and Umrah sector, has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to establish a special committee to oversee the disbursement of refunds to approximately 95,000 pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj.
The organization’s call comes amid ongoing concerns regarding the handling of refunds for previous Hajj exercises. In a statement issued on Monday, signed by national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed, IHR highlighted that refunds had already been distributed to State Pilgrim Boards, agencies, and Private Tour Operators for further transfer to their respective pilgrims.
NAHCON announced previously that each pilgrim from the 2023 Hajj would receive 150 Saudi Riyals due to refunds from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for subpar services rendered during the pilgrimage. Additionally, Nigerian pilgrims who took part in the 2022 Hajj through Private Operators are set to receive SR62,602 (approximately N27 million) for inadequate food provisions provided during their stay in Mina.
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IHR emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, urging NAHCON to publicly disclose detailed information regarding the refunds. They requested specifics such as the total refunded amount from the Saudi Ministry, the distribution allocated to State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Boards, the number of affected pilgrims, and the identities of private tour operators eligible for the refunds.
The civil society group called on NAHCON to ensure that State Muslim Pilgrim Boards and private tour operators provide clear lists of pilgrims entitled to refunds, and to monitor the process to ensure that funds reach the correct beneficiaries.
While commending NAHCON’s leadership for approving the refunds, IHR called for a robust process to guarantee that the money reaches the rightful recipients—namely, the pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj.
In addition, IHR announced plans to form a small committee of veteran journalists to oversee and report on the refund process, providing ongoing updates through their platforms and social media. The organization pledged to work collaboratively with NAHCON and relevant stakeholders to enhance transparency and improve Hajj management in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
