The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has refunded the Hajj fare paid by 564 intending pilgrims between 2019 and 2022.
Those who were refunded, specifically made the request following their inability to perform the last spiritual exercise. The refund exercise had the majority of the beneficiaries in attendance.
Daily Trust reports that many pilgrims in the state made payment for Hajj slots in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 but the annual pilgrimage was suspended for two consecutive years following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Saudi Arabia later lifted the ban on the exercise for intending pilgrims from outside the Kingdom with a very limited number of pilgrims allowed.
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In Lagos, many out of the over 4,000 intending pilgrims registered by the state were unable to perform the 2022 hajj exercise due to the increment in the Hajj fare from N1,300,000.00 to N2,640,000.00, age barrier and other stringent measures put in place by the Saudi Arabian authority.
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi at the distribution exercise, lauded the beneficiaries for their patience, perseverance and understanding, saying that the little delay experienced before the refund was finally effected was as a result of the need to scrutinise and verify their details in order to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Elegushi disclosed that the total value of the refund being made to the beneficiaries was N743,530,000.00, adding that cheques had been written in favour of each of them on the basis of the money they paid as Hajj fare.
He assured intending pilgrims who still left their money with the state government for the year 2023 holy pilgrimage that they would be given priority when the operation eventually commences.
Elegushi added that forms would not be sold to new entrants until they are catered for in fulfillment of the promises he made earlier.
He said Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat’s administration meant well for the citizens by fulfilling the promise to refund the money to intending pilgrims.
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