FCT board to refund 2,958 Hajj pilgrims N270m

The Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said it will refund about N270 million to 2,958 2024 Hajj pilgrims for services not rendered during the past Hajj exercise.

The board’s Director, Kadari Edah, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, said that the amount was received from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

Edah explained that each of the pilgrims would receive N61,000, equivalent to 150 Riyals.

He said that a committee had been inaugurated to ensure a hitch-free refund exercise.

He, however, said that each pilgrim would be properly identified and verified before he or she would receive the refund.

“Part of the criteria is that a benefiting pilgrim must have his/her evidence of travel, receipt and e-passport.

“A beneficiary must also appear before the committee in person, except in case of ill health or death,” he said. 

The director also said that the board had established a department to handle Umra activities, which hitherto were being handled by private operators.

He added that the department would come up with the modalities on how best to handle the Umra activities.

On the 2025 Hajj exercise, Edah said that intending pilgrims had been informed to deposit N8.4 million, but it was subject to change when plans were concluded.