Abuja—Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2022 Hajj are set to receive SR62,602 (about N27 million) as a refund from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for ”poor feeding” in Mina that year.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) broke the news in a statement issued in Abuja. It said that each Nigerian pilgrim, either from states or tour operators that participated in the 2023 Hajj, would also receive SR150 each as a refund for poor services.
The statement said: ‘’As for the 2022 refund, the Commission is still awaiting further details”.
However, the NAHCON National Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, revealed that refund details have emerged only for PTOs that camped on Field Office 18 in 2022.
”They are to collectively receive SR62,602 (sixty-two thousand six hundred and two thousand Saudi Riyals) as a refund for poor feeding in the Masha’ir,” it stated.
NAHCON also approved the request by Private Tour Operators to use the Bank Guarantee as a caution deposit instead of cash payment as previously obtained.
Similarly, the Commissioner Operations informed the PTO members that the NAHCON’s EXCO has approved the option of honouring the Bank Guarantee as payment of N40 million Caution Deposit for the 2025 Hajj.
”In view of the above, any operator who wishes to make the payment through Bank Guarantee but has already made a cash deposit is invited to request for collection of the earlier deposit in order to present the Bank Guarantee. Furthermore, the registration deadline is extended to 11:59 pm on Friday 11th October to accommodate registration through the Bank Guarantee or cash deposit.
Prince Elegushi advised that due to time and procedural constraints, members wishing to take the Bank Guarantee option can raise a Bank Draft of the Caution Deposit amount and retrieve it after the Bank Guarantee is ready. The retrieval can be done even after the deadline of registration. The Commissioner expressed concern over time limitation as reason for the advice,” the statement explained.
