Press release
The management of Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Sokoto has formed a committee to supervise the payments and screening of 2023 pilgrims entitled to receive the balance or money refunded to them by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via NAHCON to the respective State Pilgrims Welfare Boards.
This followed shortly after a stakeholders meeting between management of the Agency, Hajj registration officers known as the secretaries of the 23 Local Government Areas as well as the 23 Assistant Hajj Registration Officers the AROs, held at the Agency’s Headquarters yesterday Thursday the 28th of November 2024.
Chairman of the Agency Aliyu Musa represented by the director of administration, also the acting secretary of the Agency Ladan Ibrahim said the committee has been tasked to give close monitoring of every detail regarding the screening and payments of the refund money so as to ensure everyone has received his or her entitlement according to the specifications.
While urging the local government officials to form semilar sub-committees at their levels, the chairman also warned all to strictly adhere to the rudement of the disbursement as other anti-corrupt practice agencies such as EFCC, ICPC and similar operatives were involved to monitor the exercise at all levels.
Commenting, director of Hajj operations Abubakar Cika spoke on the necessary documents and information expected from each beneficiary before screening.
He said each Alhaji was expected to come along with his international passport, travelling documents, previous payments details, contact and account numbers among others.
In his contribution the Director of finance Nasiru Abubakar assured of instant fund transfers as soon as the beneficiaries were successfully cleared.
Deputy director of administration Surajo Bello Sifawa added that it was only those who performed 2023 Hajj operations were entitled for the refundment stressing more on the importance of valuable documents advising that police reports or any evidence for the lost of items or life of the beneficiary must accompany any complain to assertain its genuinty.
Contributions from the forum of the secretaries, the ROs and that of AROs were entertained.
