The authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has refunded the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) the sum of N107,864,567 (SR542,033) for poor feeding service rendered by companies of Mutawwifs for pilgrims from African non-Arab countries during the 2022 hajj.
The refund of the money was confirmed by NAHCON in a statement Tuesday, saying the country made the payment following its several letters to the company contracted during the hajj exercise.
Mutawwifs are Saudi companies responsible for the accommodation, transportation and feeding of Nigerian and other African pilgrims in Muna and Arafat during the hajj.
“In a letter signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Ahmad Bin Abbas Sindi, to the Chairman/ CEO of the Commission, Zikirullah Hassan, it was revealed that the refund was due to the poor quality of service and in order for the company to maintain the National relationship between the commission, the sum of S R542, 033 has been deducted from the amount of the Masha’ir feeding contract.” NAHCON said.
The NAHCON boss, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said the development was exciting as it vindicated the commission’s tenacious struggle to right the wrongs done to Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj by the Muassassah, especially in the feeding arrangement and the quality of services rendered during the period.
He said, “I really want to thank my counterparts from the Mutawwifs for this role in ensuring that they refunded the money paid for services not rendered or poorly delivered.”
NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication Division, Mousa Ubandawaki, said the commission was yet to collect the money but noted that when collected, the money would be given to states’ pilgrims’ boards whose responsibility it is to identify and refund the pilgrims affected
