The Management of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has set a committee to supervise the payments and screening of 2023 pilgrims entitled to receive the balance or money refunded to them by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the respective State Pilgrims Welfare Boards.
The step was taken shortly after a stakeholders meeting between management of the Agency, Hajj registration officers known as the secretaries of the 23 Local Government Areas as well as the 23 Assistant Hajj Registration Officers ( AROs), held at the Agency’s Headquarters on Thursday, 28th November 2024.
Chairman of the Agency, Aliyu Musa represented by the Director of Administration and the acting Secretary of the Agency, Ladan Ibrahim said the committee has been tasked to give close monitoring of every detail regarding the screening and payments of the refund money.
While urging the local government officials to form similar sub-committees at their levels, the chairman also warned all to strictly adhere to the rudement of the disbursement as anti-corruption agencies such as EFCC, ICPC would monitor the exercise at all levels.
Commenting, Director of Hajj Operations, Abubakar Cika spoke on the necessary documents and information expected from each prospective
beneficiary before screening.
He said each of the 2023 Pilgrim
was expected to come along with his international passport, travelling documents, previous payments details, contact and account numbers among others.
In his contribution, the Director of Finance, Nasiru Abubakar assured of instant fund transfers as soon as the beneficiaries were successfully cleared.
Deputy Director of Administration, Surajo Bello Sifawa added that it was only those who performed 2023 Hajj operations that are entitled to the refund, stressing more on the importance of valuable documents, saying that police reports or any evidence for the lost of items or life of the beneficiary must accompany any complaint.
