Why we refunded some money to pilgrims - Osun Amir Hajj

The chairman of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, who is also the Amir-ul-Hajj of the state, Barrister Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan, has explained that pilgrims from the state who performed the 2016 and 2017 hajj, were given a refund of part of their hajj fare because certain welfare services were not satisfactorily rendered to them during the exercise.

Hassan said the explanation became necessary because to enable the pilgrims know why they were being given the refund, though none of them, he added, complained or asked for a refund, and, indeed, seemed satisfied with the services rendered to them during the pilgrimage.

The pilgrims, who thronged the board’s office, located in the Office of the Governor in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, to collect the refund of N28,500 each from their hajj fare, expressed surprise at what some of them described as “manna”.

The pilgrims commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, for the prompt release and payment of the money. They expressed gratitude to NAHCON and the Osun State government for “their openness.”

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Sarafadeen Hakeeb Kadara, who spoke on behalf of the other pilgrims, said the refund came as a surprise because they were not expecting it as none of them made any complaint that could warrant the demand for such a refund.

But the Amir-ul-Hajj maintained, “We felt that there were certain things that our pilgrims did not enjoy to the fullest and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) met with the concerned Saudi authorities in this and we got the refund. Gov Aregbesola approved and gave us the go-ahead to disburse the money to the pilgrims immediately.”