* Says, No concessionary exchange rate for Hajj fare in 2025
* Saudi Arabia reduces allocation for tour operators from 20 to 10
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a refund of 150 Saudi Riyals (about N64,600) each to 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who performed the 2023 hajj exercise.
According to NAHCON, the pilgrims whether through state pilgrim boards or private tour operators, will receive a refund due to poor service delivery rendered by the leadership of Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non-Arab Countries otherwise known as Mu’assasa.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi made the disclosure during an interactive meeting with members of Private Tour Operators in Nigeria (PTOs) held on Monday, 7th October, adding that the Commission has already started making arrangements for the payment.
Prince Elegushi, who chaired the virtual meeting, relayed the new developments from both Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU) and NAHCON’s decisions resulting from the second EXCO meeting with the new head of the Commission.
Muslim News reports that during Hajj 2023, NAHCON under former Chairman/CEO, Zikrullah Hassan, was not satisfied with the services provided by the leadership Mu’assasa to the Nigerian pilgrims.
He, therefore, demanded a refund for the poor service delivery, especially feeding and inadequate tent spaces for about 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims.
A year after the sad experience for the Nigerian pilgrims, Prince Elegushi shared the positive development, saying all 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims that travelled for Hajj in 2023 from both states and private operators are to receive SR150 each (one hundred and fifty Saudi Riyals) as refund.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, Prince Elegushi also addressed the 2023 Hajj refunds, noting that though the commission is still awaiting more details, tour operators who camped at Field Office 18 will collectively receive SR62, 602 as refund for poor feeding in the Masha’ir.
Slashes Number of Hajj Operators to 10
Prince Elegushi also announced that the Saudi authorities have reduced the number of lead companies (tour operators) to participate in the hajj from 20 to 10, adding that each company must register a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to qualify for hajj visa approval.
The development, Muslim News learnt, is coming barely a month after the Kingdom approved 20 lead companies (operators) for next year’s Hajj instead of the 40 that participated in the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
Says, No concessionary exchange rate for Hajj fare in 2025
Prince Elegushi also revealed that there will be no concessionary exchange rate from the federal government for hajj fare payments in 2025, whether through state or private operators.
Recall that the Nigerian government had previously subsidized exchange rate for pilgrims embarking on the spiritual journey to the holy land, but with the latest development, there is every possibility that intending pilgrims for Hajj 2025 will pay more.
Other issues
Speaking on the alleged N17 billion indebtedness to private tour operators from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of N25 million, Prince Elegushi disclosed that NAHCON received N2 billion, 750 million from 110 companies registered for the 2024 Hajj.
According to him, “This amount included a rollover of N1 billion, N250m from the 2023 Hajj. While 30 companies requested refunds amounting to N750 million, which have been paid, the remaining balance in NAHCON’s custody is N750 million for undecided tour operators.”
Prince Elegushi announced that NAHCON has approved the option for private tour operators to use bank guarantees as an alternative to the N40 million caution deposit for the 2025 Hajj. Operators who have already made a cash deposit may request to collect it and present a bank guarantee instead.
The registration deadline for tour operators has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 11th October 2024, to allow for registration through either bank guarantees or cash deposits.
Furthermore, the NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations advised operators opting for bank guarantees to raise a bank draft for the caution deposit amount, which they can retrieve once the bank guarantee is ready, even after the registration deadline.
He expressed concerns about time limitations, citing them as the reason for his advice.
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