By Olugbenga Salami
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has been advised to constitute a special committee that will monitor the disbursement of refunds to about 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who performed the 2023 Hajj exercise.
This, according to the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, a faith-based civil society organization, CSO that monitors reports on, and advocates for transparency in the Nigerian Hajj and Umrah industry, which gave the admonition, became necessary following the controversy that often follows refunds to pilgrims from the country.
IHR, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, on Monday, said it’s aware that the refund has been disbursed to state pilgrim boards and agencies, as well as Private Tour Operators, for onward payment to their respective 2023 pilgrims.
NAHCON had announced that each pilgrim who participated in the 2023 Hajj exercise would be refunded 150 Saudi Riyals after the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah refunded them for services poorly rendered to the pilgrims.
Also, the commission announced that Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2022 Hajj under the Private Hajj Operators would receive SR62,602 (about N27 million) as a refund from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for ‘’poor feeding’’ in Mina that year.
“We also urge NAHCON to make details of the refund to the public as a sign of transparency and accountability which is essential in restoring the confidence of the public and intending pilgrims in the system,” IHR stated.
The group said such details should include how much was released to NAHCON by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, how much is due or has been released to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards; the number of pilgrims involved, names of private tour operators that are entitled to the refund.
“The commission should compel State Muslim Pilgrims Boards and private tour operators to provide lists of pilgrims entitled to refunds and monitor them to ensure that the refunds reach their deserving targets.
“While we commend the chairman and his commissioners for the approval of the refund, we appeal to the commission to institute a process that will ensure that the refunds get to its rightful beneficiaries- the 2023 Hajj pilgrims,” it added.