Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has directed the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency to commence arrangements to refund the deposits made by all intending pilgrims from the state for this year’s Hajj.
The decision followed the report of the cancellation of Hajj for International Pilgrims for 2021 by the Authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to the Chairman Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Mukhtar Bello Maigona the deposits to be refunded comprised both 2020 and 2021.
In view of this development, the Chairman assured that the refund would be made to the last Kobo of each of the intending pilgrims.
He also appeals to all the intending pilgrims to bear with the cancellation of this year’s Hajj by the Saudi Arabian authorities in good faith.
Maigona also announced that the refund exercise would be made in two phases to consider:-
i) Those who wish to collect their total deposits. ii) Those who wish to roll over their deposits with the Agency for next year’s Hajj.
The Director-General of the Agency, Shehu Muhammed Dange, further seeks the understanding of the intending pilgrim as Allah ordains it.
Dange assured that the Agency, in conjunction with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and 23 Local Government Hajj Registration Officers of the State, will soon come up with modalities for the adequate payments of the refunds.
Nigeria is among other Muslim nations that will not be participating in the spiritual exercise in the Holy land this year.
