The Federal Capital Territory, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (FCT-MPWB) in Nigeria says it has received about N270 million to be shared at the rate of 61,000 Naira per pilgrim, which is equivalent to 150 Riyals as refund for services not rendered during the 2024 hajj exercise in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Board’s Director, Mr. Kadari Edah, who made this known in Abuja said that to handle refund gotten from NAHCON for 2024 pilgrims, it inaugurated a committee to ensure a hitch free exercise.
He added that before one is entitled to the money, he/she must identify themselves properly as a true beneficiary.
Edah reiterated that part of the guideline is that one must have his/her evidence of travel, receipt and e-passport, then finally one must come by himself or herself as no third party is allow.
According to him: “Though there may be some cases that you cannot help, but maybe somebody has to come for someone else, like case of death, case of ill health, and some other cases like that, we would consider.
“But, what I said they should do, people who do not have any case and have come, they should shortlist them and treat their cases first. Those who have cases, we should shortlist them and keep them. After we have finished settling the ones, who have no cases, we will come back to them, so that we can investigate.
“We have inaugurated two committees now. One is to handle a refund from NAHCON for 2024 pilgrims. We want to engage ourselves in Umra activities. So that department will handle Umra cases, so they should come up with a mandate on how to best handle such cases.
“So that’s some of the things we are doing so far. And so many things we have done, we did some reshufflement in the offices, to help us to fast-track our activities.
“We are still hoping that we continue to do some reshufflement so that some of the things I inherited, I’m not too comfortable with it, like in the account, for example.
“So we want to see how we can straighten our records and update our records. So many records are not proper. So we wait to see who we can bring in, change hands and see whether things will get better. That’s where we are. “
Furthermore, the Director disclosed that in preparation of 2025 Hajj exercise, the Board has started informing intending Pilgrims should start the deposit of 8.4 million Naira per pilgrim.
“That is not the final rate yet. It could be less or it could be more. I want to believe it will be less, because the airline screening we did in NAHCON recently, the flight fare, which is a major part of the components of Hajj fare, was slightly less than the 2024 Flight fare
“When we went for this interactive and investigative hearing in National Assembly, they tabled before NAHCON to reduce Hajj fare by reducing some of these charges, which certainly NAHCON is looking towards that direction to ensure that they reduce some of the charges on the components of Hajj fare, and I think they are doing that.
“As I said, the flight fare is one of it. It will be slightly lower than what we had last year, which will also affect the Hajj fare.” He stressed.
PIAK
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