….refunds SR150,000 to Private Tour Operators for 2023
By Musa Baba Adamu
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it had accepted Bank Guarantee in place of Cash as Caution Deposit for 2025 Hajj exercise.
The Commission also informed that it had refunded the sum of 150,000 Saudi Riyals (SRs) to Private Tour Operators being thr Caution Deposits for 2023.
A statement issued by Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director Public Affairs, NAHCON, quoted Commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi, as revealing these during a virtual meeting held yesterday with Private Tour Operators in attendance.
The Commissioner also revealed that N40million has been accepted as Caution Deposit down from the earlier N50milliom.
He said: “In view of the above, any Operator who wishes to make the payment through Bank Guarantee but has already made cash deposit is invited to request for collection of the earlier deposit in order to present the Bank Guarantee.”
He also disclosed that due to the new development, deadline for the registration by the Private Tour Operators had been extended to Friday, 7th October.
He also advised that due to time and procedural constraints, members wishing to take the Bank Guarantee option can raise a Bank Draft of the amount and retrieve it after the Bank Guarantee is ready.
“The retrieval can be done even after deadline of registration. The Commissioner expressed concern over time limitation as reason for the advice.”
On the issue of refund, he said while the entire 95,000 pilgrims for the year 2023 were eligible for the SR 150,000, details for 2022 refund was still been awaited.
He however said refund details for those who camped on Field Office 18 in 2022 had emerged.
“They are to collectively receive SR62, 602 (sixty-two thousand six hundred and two thousand Saudi Riyals) as refund for poor feeding in the Masha’ir.”
On the new policies from the Saudi authorities, a Tour Operator must have at least 20,000 registered pilgrims to be considered for Hajj visa approval in the 2025 Hajj operations.
He said contrary to earlier announced that 20 Lead Companies were to spearhead conduct of 2025 Hajj from the private sector, it was now 10.
He further revealed that under 2025 Hajj operations there would be no concessionary exchange rate from government for Hajj fare payment for both state and private Hajj pilgrims.
On vexatious issue of outstanding refund between the Commission and the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators (AHUON), the Commissioner clarified that “contrary to claims that NAHCON owes PTOs N17billion from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of N25million, the Commission only received N2billion, 750million from 110 companies that registered for the 2024 Hajj.
“The amount included a roll-over of N1billion, N250million from the previous year. From the amount, 30 companies requested for refunds amounting to N750million which has been paid. The balance still in the custody of the Commission accruing to undecided PTOs is N750m.”
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