Increased Hajj fare: CSO cautions pilgrims against seeking refund

• Ododo lauds Kogi officials for clearing 460 candidates

INDEPENDENT Hajj Reporters ( IHR) has called on intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj to avoid the temptation of seeking refund of their deposits, in view of the sudden increase of N1.9 million.

This was as Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has commended the state’s hajj commission for becoming the first to effect full contribution to the Hajj Savings Scheme by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria ( NAHCON) to secure clearance for 460 pilgrims from the state for the pilgrimage to Makkah.

IHR, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, yesterday, worried that hundreds of intending pilgrims, who were rather at loss with the latest development, were left with no alternative.

NAHCON, on Sunday, announced a fresh fare increase, few months after pilgrims had completed their N4.9 million final deposits, attributing the development to increasing volatility of exchange rate of dollar to naira.

It stated: “IHR findings, through our members across the country and discussions held with some state Hajj officials, indicate that quite a number of pilgrims have started asking for their deposits back.

“Our findings also show that while some are asking for their deposits out of anger, others are saying they cannot raise the balance of N1.9 million within four days. It also revealed that some pilgrims were contemplating exploring legal options, insisting that the Federal Government, through NAHCON, had announced a final hajj fare of N4.699 million, which they had paid in full within the stipulated time.”

The pilgrims argued that their receipt bears ‘ complete payment for 2024 hajj’ and therefore vow to ensure they are taken to Saudi Arabia to perform 2024 Hajj, The Guardian gathered.

The civil society organisation ( CSO), however, advised the intending pilgrims not to rush into taking decisions out of anger and always give space for positive outcomes.