The Adamawa Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission has refunded N53,035,000 deposits to 46 intending pilgrims that requested for it.
The commission did so since the 2020 holy Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia had been aborted due to the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had restricted international pilgrims from performing the year 2020 Hajj due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Salihu Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary of the Adamawa Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission, refunded the money deposited for the pilgrimage to intending pilgrims on Thursday in Yola.
The executive secretary said that a total of N53,035,000 was refunded by the commission to those who applied for a refund of the 2020 Hajj deposit.
Abubakar said that a total of 1,169 intending pilgrims from the state paid for the 2020 holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
” A total of 1,169 Intending Pilgrims from Adamawa paid for the aborted 2020 Hajj Pilgrimage due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
“Six hundred and ninety four (694) out of the number paid full fare of N1,459,000 while the remaining 475 intending pilgrims didn’t pay the full amount.
” And 46 of the intending pilgrims applied for refund of their monies, ” Abubakar said.
He said that the refund of the deposit was a matter of choice, as those that did not apply for the refund would automatically be registered for the 2021 Hajj operation.
” The Commission has started the 2021 Hajji preparation with the capturing of those that didn’t collect their money,” the Executive Secretary said.
According to him, the commission has given one month notice to the 2020 intending pilgrims to apply for the refund of their money which lapsed today.