The Independent Hajj Reporters said it will partner with anti-corruption agencies to monitor the disbursement of N401 million refunds by the state pilgrims’ agencies to their pilgrims.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) last week said it has refunded N401 million to 11 State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies for services not rendered during the 2017 hajj for disbursement to pilgrims.
A statement by the civil society’s national coordinator Ibrahim Muhammed and publicity secretary Abubakar Mahmoud lamented that only Osun State began the process of disbursement weeks after the refund was made.
The 11 states that got the refunds are Kaduna (N129m), Zamfara (N67m), Sokoto (N66m), Bauchi (N47m), Osun (N31m), Gombe (N25m), Plateau (N24m), Ondo (N4.5m), Delta (N3m), Abia (N884,231), and Cross River (N313,180).
“We are concerned that of the 11 state pilgrims’ agencies that collected the refunds, only Osun State released a statement urging its pilgrims to come forward for the refunds, while other states kept mute.
“We are in the process of partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) and other security agencies to ensure all monies meant for pilgrims are disbursed to them,” the organisation said.
The statement recalled that in 2015 hajj, N1.8 billion was sent to states pilgrims’ agencies by NAHCON for disbursement to pilgrims; saying while some states disbursed the funds accordingly, others deliberately created administrative bottlenecks that made it practically difficult for the funds to be disbursed.
It urged concerned states pilgrims’ agencies to commence immediate payment of the refunds to the affected pilgrims without further delay.
