The Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Sayed Malik, has assured intending pilgrims who missed the 2022 Hajj, of the Board’s readiness to refund their fares, adding that those who do not wish to collect their money back would be given priority in 2023.
Speaking on the 2022 Hajj report, Malik said, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, that the Board had commenced full payment to those who wish to take their money back, irrespective of the initial cost deduction for their inoculation, clothes, bags and some other charges, as directed by Governor Seyi Makinde.
The Chairman disclosed that the Board had embarked on another round of refund of unspent funds from the 2022 Hajj fare to all pilgrims that went with the Board for the Hajj exercise.
“All the pilgrims who performed the 2022 Hajj with the Board should come to Olodo Hajj Camp with their receipts for processing of the amount of money to be refunded. Our Account Department is confirming the amount remaining, after deducting all their expenses. Whatever is remaining would be given to each pilgrim.
“Lessons were learnt in this year’s Hajj exercise. And these lessons will be put to use in the planning of next year’s exercise. I want to assure you that we will block all loopholes noticed in the 2022 Hajj. In sha Allah, 2023 Hajj will be better in terms of planning and arrangements,” Malik asserted.
He exonerated the Board from the unfortunate phenomenon encountered during the 2022 Hajj, explaining that the inadequacies were not peculiar to Oyo State as such, even worse, were experienced by intending pilgrims in some other states of the Federation and the reason the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had to tender an apology to the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and Tour Operators.
The Chairman, however, stated that the 2022 Hajj exercise was a success despite the initial hiccups caused by the Saudi authorities’ strict anti-COVID 19 protocols and the haphazard arrangements of NAHCON, revealing that apart from the fact that the initial hitches were solved, there was no record of casualty among the Oyo State pilgrims throughout the period of the holy pilgrimage, as all the 641 pilgrims who performed the 2022 Hajj in Makkah returned safely.
“All the pilgrims were given their Basic Traveling Allowances (BTA) in full. The initial complaints of very few of the pilgrims were addressed as none of them was owed. All intending pilgrims who left their passports with the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board should come to Hajj Camp, Olodo to collect them.”
Malik was full of thanks to Governor Makinde for the timely and invaluable moral and financial support he gave to the Board and for providing all the needed resources to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.
“We are also grateful to the members of the government delegation under the able leadership of the Hon. Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, as well as the Head of Service, Alhaja Amidat Ololade Agboola, for their immense contributions to this year’s Hajj exercise,” the Chairman added
PIAK
