The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of tour operators to participate in the 2025 Hajj to 20 from 40 that participated in 2024 Hajj.
NAHCON’s Commissioner Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi made the disclosure during a meeting with members of Private Tour Operators.
Elegushi also stated that the commission paid out N695million refund to 139 Tour Operators from their caution deposit for the 2023 Hajj due to lack of complaint from their pilgrims.
He stated that the caution deposit is meant to compensate any pilgrim with genuine claims of disservice by a Tour Operator.
“The normal procedure after every Hajj was for NAHCON to refund pilgrims that did not go for the Hajj from the defaulting company’s caution deposit. Hence, advertisement is first placed in any national daily newspaper inviting complaints from pilgrims. Then after one month’s expiration of the advertisement, those companies without any indictment are considered eligible for refunds, thus will be invited for reconciliation after which they apply for the refund or roll-over. Any company found wanting on the other hand will wait for an outcome of investigation to be followed by reconciliation then payment of refund after sending its formal request for that.”
For the 2024 refund, he noted that the invitation for complaint ended on 10th of August after which only 26 companies had applied for refund as at the time of the meeting.
“The process was still ongoing. However, due to new developments in the commission, payment could not be made at that time without an approving officer who was the Chairman/CEO.”
On his part, AHUON’s President, Alhaji Abdullateef Ekundayo, appreciated NAHCON for holding the meeting, expressing satisfaction for the opportunity to discuss these issues with the commission as the regulator.
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