Lagos Begins Refund of N223m to 2023 Hajj Pilgrims

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the disbursement of refunds totalling N223,003,080.00 to the 2023 Hajj pilgrims who performed the holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia through the state.

This announcement was made by the Board Secretary, Mr. Saheed Onipede, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Affairs Officer, Taofeek Lawal.

Onipede confirmed that the refund, which amounts to N223,003,080.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Three Thousand and Eighty Naira), is being paid to the pilgrims as compensation for services not rendered by the Saudi authorities during the 2023 pilgrimage. Each of the 3,651 eligible pilgrims is set to receive N61,080.00 (Sixty-One Thousand and Eighty Naira).

“This refund is part of efforts by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to address the inconvenience faced by pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj, particularly due to services that were not properly provided by the Saudi authorities,” Onipede explained. “The refund will serve as a form of relief for the pilgrims.”

To collect the refund, beneficiaries must meet certain requirements. For pilgrims who are still alive, they are required to submit an application letter, photocopies of their international passport’s data page, their Nigeria/Saudi Immigration stamped pages (both inbound and outbound), and their bank account details.

For deceased pilgrims, their families must provide a death certificate, details of the next of kin as indicated in the Hajj form, a sworn affidavit, and the relevant immigration stamped pages.

Onipede addressed concerns about the refund process, assuring that the state is committed to ensuring the payments are made smoothly. “We are dedicated to ensuring that the refund process is seamless and stress-free for all beneficiaries. As the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State will not fail in meeting the rights and privileges of our pilgrims,” he said.

It is worth noting that in November 2024, NAHCON announced the disbursement of a total of N4,479,362,880.00 (Four Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira) to the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Armed Forces, and accredited tour operators.

This sum was to compensate for the services that were inadequately rendered to the 2023 Hajj pilgrims, particularly at the Muna and Arafah camps.