The Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, through it’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, said it has refunded N432 million to 334 intending pilgrims, who indicated interest in collecting their 2021 Hajj Fare deposit due to cancellation of pilgrimage for international pilgrims.
The Director of the Board, Mallam Muhammad Nasiru DanMallam, made the disclosure at a news conference on the refund of deposits to intending pilgrims by the organisation on Monday, in Abuja.
He explained that before the Hajj cancellation, the board had registered 1,714 intending pilgrims who had indicated interest to perform the religious obligation through the board in 2021 Hajj.
” These numbers include those who rolled over their deposit from the already cancelled 2020 Hajj. Following the cancellation, the board communicated to the intending pilgrims who may have wished to collect their deposit to indicate interest and get a refund.
” As such, the board has as at Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 refunded the sum of N432 million only to 334 intending pilgrims who have indicated interest to collect their deposit.
” The board made the refund without any deductions and the exercise is ongoing,” he said.
The Director, however, said that not all the remaining 1,380 intending pilgrims have paid the minimum deposit of N1.5 million as instructed by NAHCON.
He further explained that those who deposited below one million Naira could not be captured in the central data base provided by the regulating body against Hajj 2021.
” Therefore, the board advised those that deposited below the minimum amount to migrate from the accustomed method of payment for Hajj seat to the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) initiated by the NAHCON to enable intending pilgrims pay for hajj at their own convenience.
” The Hajj Savings Scheme gives them a better chance of gradually completing their payment for Hajj seats and participating in future pilgrimages.
” However, those who have deposited up to the minimum deposit of N1.5 million and intend to rollover their deposit to 2022 Hajj will surely get priority if it turns out that Hajj will take place and FCT gets enough slots for cater for them all.
” But those intending pilgrims should also note that their chance of getting the seat will depend on the number of Hajj slots allocated to the FCT by NAHCON and after having fully accommodated the rolled over depositors.”
DanMallam stated that the board would not collect fresh deposits from prospective intending pilgrims until it received 2022 Hajj allocation from NAHCON and have fully accommodated the rolled over depositors.
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