By Philip Yatai
The FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board says it will refund about N270m to 2,958 2024 Hajj pilgrims for services not rendered during the Hajj exercise.
The board director, Mr Kadari Edah, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Monday, saying that the amount was received from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
Edah explained that each pilgrim would receive N61,000, equivalent to 150 Riyals.
He said a committee was inaugurated to ensure a hitch-free refund exercise.
However, he said that each pilgrim would be properly identified and verified before he or she received the refund.
“Part of the criteria is that a benefiting pilgrim must have evidence of travel, receipt, and e-passport.
“A beneficiary must also appear before the committee in person, except in case of ill health or death,” he said.
The Director also said that the board had established a department to handle Umra activities, which had been handled by private operators until now.
He said the department would devise the best modalities for handling the Umra activities.
On the 2025 Hajj exercise, Edah said that intending pilgrims had been informed to deposit N8.4m, but it was subject to change when plans were concluded. (NAN)
