Hajj Commission Discloses Amount It Would Refund to 2024 Hajj Pilgrims

• The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has said 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2024 hajj will receive a refund of 150 Riyals each for poor services during the pilgrimage
• The commission disclosed that for the 2025 hajj fare, pilgrims will not receive any concessionary exchange rate from the federal government
• Legit.ng reports that annually, thousands of Nigerians usually travel to Saudi Arabia for the hajj exercise

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.

FCT, Abuja - The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2024 hajj will receive a refund of 150 Saudi Riyals (about N67,500) each for poor services during the pilgrimage.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Fatima Usara, the commission’s spokesperson, said the decision was arrived at during a meeting held on Monday, October 7.

Read also

Hajj 2025: Tinubu's government scraps subsidy, fare expected to hit N10 million

NAHCON explained that the refund is for services not rendered by the Saudi Hajj ministry at Masha’ir during the 2023 hajj.

NAHCON said:

“All 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims that travelled for Hajj in 2023 from both states and private operators are to receive SR150 each (one hundred and fifty Saudi Riyals) as refund.”

Furthermore, NAHCON clarified that contrary to claims that NAHCON owes private tour operators, (PTOs) N17 billion from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of N25m, it received only N2 billion, 750million from 110 companies that registered for the 2024 Hajj.

The agency added:

“The amount included a roll-over of N1billion, 250m from the previous year. From the amount, 30 companies requested for refunds amounting to N750m which has been paid. The balance still in the custody of the Commission accruing to undecided PTOs is N750m.”

Read also

New fuel prices as filling stations slash pump prices after NNPC’s decision

Read more on hajj 2024:

• Hajj 2024: Over 500 pilgrims die over extreme heat in Saudi Arabia, report says
• 2024 Hajj: ICPC raids NAHCON office, grills director over N90 billion subsidy funds
• Shettima: FG commits N90 billion to subsidise 2024 hajj pilgrimage

Legit.ng reports that hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for capable Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.

Hajj 2025: Tinubu's govt scraps subsidy

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that NAHCON announced that the federal government will not subsidise pilgrims' fares in the upcoming 2025 hajj.

With the removal of this subsidy and the current exchange rate of N1,650 to a dollar, Nigerian pilgrims may have to pay as much as N10 million for the 2025 Hajj, as they are required to cover at least $6,000 for the fare.

Source: Legit.ng