The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has refunded N5.3 billion to State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SPWBs) and accredited tour operators due to substandard services rendered during the 2023 Hajj.
According to a statement signed by NAHCON’s Head of Public Affairs, Muhammad Musa, the commission disbursed N4.4 billion to SPWBs, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the Armed Forces. Additionally, N917 million was refunded to 192 accredited tour companies involved in the pilgrimage.
The refunds are part of NAHCON’s commitment to accountability under its Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Usman. Pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj are urged to contact their SPWBs or tour operators to claim their refunds, amounting to N61,080 per pilgrim.
The commission noted that over 73,336 pilgrims from across Nigeria, including states with high pilgrim numbers like Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kwara, Lagos, and the FCT, are eligible for the refund. The funds primarily address issues such as poorly rendered Masha’ir electricity services by Saudi authorities.
In its statement, NAHCON highlighted the disbursement details:
> “A sum of N4,479,362,880 has been refunded to State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, the FCT, and the Armed Forces. Similarly, N917,148,479.99 was refunded to 192 accredited tour companies for onward distribution to their respective pilgrims.”
NAHCON also emphasized its dedication to transparency by involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the refund process.
The commission urged intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj to make early deposits with their respective SPWBs to ensure seamless planning in line with Saudi Arabia’s guidelines.
