The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has returned over ₦301.56 million to 4,936 pilgrims from Kebbi State who participated in the 2023 Hajj.
The development was confirmed by Faruku Enabo, the Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, during a meeting convened yesterday to address the refunds provided by NAHCON.
He indicated that the funds have already been transferred to the agency’s account for subsequent distribution to the recipients.
Henzodaily understands that each of these pilgrims will receive a reimbursement of ₦61,080.
The refunds are being processed in accordance with NAHCON’s directive to reimburse pilgrims for services that were not provided during the 2023 Hajj.
He said, “Upon receiving the funds from NAHCON, I informed the governor, who directed me to initiate the refund process to the pilgrims, with the chairmen of the 21 local government areas serving as witnesses and confirming the process.”
Enabo urged the council chairmen also to monitor the exercise to ensure that all the affected pilgrims get their money.
He also stated that security agencies would monitor the exercise.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee set up to probe the operations of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) over the 2024 Hajj exercise has described the commission as dirty.
The lawmakers told the new NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, that he was presiding over a very “dirty” agency.
Henzodaily recalls following the controversy which surrounded the utilization of the ₦90bn subsidy provided by the federal government for the 2024 Hajj exercise, President Bola Tinubu, in August, sacked the embattled Chairman of the commission, Jalal Arabi and replaced him with Usman.
The House of Representatives also set up a panel in July 2024 to investigate NAHCON activities regarding the shoddy arrangements and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Speaking at the investigative hearing of the committee in Abuja last month, the Chairman of the House Committee and member representing the Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Sada Soli, told the NAHCON Chairman that he was presiding over a “dirty” agency.