The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has refunded over N752 million to 609 intending pilgrims who made deposits for the 2020/2021 Hajj exercise.
Muhammad Sani Alhassan, the executive secretary of the board, stated this in an interview with journalists in Dutse, the Jigawa capital, on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
He said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, had ordered the board to immediately refund the Hajj fare after the Saudi Arabian authorities announced the ban of pilgrimage to some countries as part of measures to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alhassan explained that 1,165 intending pilgrims had paid their Hajj fare for 2020/2021.
“Out of 1,165 intending pilgrims, 609 were refunded while 556 didn’t collect their Hajj fare ahead of the next year’s exercise,” he said.
He said the remaining 556 intending pilgrims, who did not collect their hajj fares, will be given consideration in next year’s exercise.
Alhassan urged people to continue praying for peace, stability, and an end to the COVID-19 pandemic globally.
