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2023 Hajj: NAHCON to refund N64, 679 to 95,000 pilgrims
By Mario Deepromoter
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that it would refund SR150 (N64,679) each to 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj exercise.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Olanrewaju-Elegushi, revealed this in a statement by the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi explained that the refund is for services not rendered by the Saudi Hajj Ministry at Masha’ir during the last Hajj.
“All 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims that travelled for Hajj in 2023 from both states and private operators are to receive SR150 each (one hundred and fifty Saudi Riyals) as refund,” he said.
He disclosed that NAHCON has already started working towards making the payments
Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi also provided some updates on issues concerning refunds requested by Private Tour Operators, (PTOs).
He said one of the decision reached during the tour was that instead of 20 lead companies earlier slated to spearhead the conduct of 2025 Hajj from the private sector, the number has been reduced to 10 by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU).
He added that “the ministry has stipulated that each company must register minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to be considered for Hajj visa approval.”
Refund claims
Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi further clarified that contrary to claims that NAHCON owes PTOs N17 billion from the 2024 Hajj caution deposit of N25m, it received only N2 billion, 750million from 110 companies that registered for the 2024 Hajj.
“The amount included a roll-over of N1billion, 250m from the previous year. From the amount, 30 companies requested for refunds amounting to N750m which has been paid. The balance still in the custody of the Commission accruing to undecided PTOs is N750m,” he said.
On the 2022 refund, Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi said the Commission is still awaiting details.
He, however, revealed that details have emerged only for PTOs that camped on Field Office 18 in 2022.
: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” the statement said.
Bank Guarantee
Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi also informed the PTO members that NAHCON’s EXCO has approved the option of honouring Bank Guarantee as payment of N40 million Caution Deposit for the 2025 Hajj.
” In view of the above, any operator who wishes to make the payment through Bank Guarantee but has already made a cash deposit is invited to request for collection of the earlier deposit in order to present the Bank Guarantee.
“The registration deadline was extended to 11:59 p.m. Friday 11th October to accommodate registration through the Bank Guarantee or cash deposit. We advised that due to time and procedural constraints, members wishing to take the Bank Guarantee option can raise a Bank Draft of the Caution Deposit 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.
Exchange rate for 2025
Mr Olanrewaju-Elegushi also confirmed that there will be no concessionary exchange rate from government for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
” It was confirmed that for the 2025 Hajj, there will be no concessionary exchange rate from the government for Hajj fare payment for pilgrims whether under state or private Hajj operators.
“As part of efforts to curtail hitches for the 2025 Hajj and current Umrah operations, relevant officers of the commission under the Acting Chairman, along with selected members of the PTOs, will visit Saudi Arabia to seek a headway in contentious issues such as trapped IBAN deposits, unexplained refunds and limited number of Umrah visa,” the commissioner added.
President Bola Tinubu has said that the 2025 budget forecasts that inflation will decline from current 34.6% to 15% next year.
He said this during his presentation of the N47.9 trillion 2025 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The President also said that the exchange rate will improve from approximately N1,700 per dollar to N1,500.
According to Tinubu, “this is an ambitious but necessary budget to secure our future.”
“The Budget projects inflation will decline from the current rate of 34.6 per cent to 15 per cent next year, while the exchange rate will improve from approximately 1,700 naira per US dollar to 1,500 naira, and a base crude oil production assumption of 2.06 million barrels per day,”Tinubu said.
He said the budget projections are based upon observations such as reduction of petroleum products importation, increased export of finished petroleum products, bumper harvest driven by enhanced security, reducing reliance on food imports, among others.
Tinubu listed highlights of the budget to include defence and security – N4.91tn, infrastructure – N4.06tn, health – N2.4tn, education – N3.5tn, among others.
Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship following incessant increase in inflation and volatile exchange rate that has seen dollar exchange as high as N1,700 in recent days.
On Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 34.60% in November 2024 from 33.88% in October 2024.
The November inflation rate showed an increase of 0.72% points compared to the October 2024 inflation rate, according to NBS’s latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 6.40% points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (28.20%). This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in November 2024 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., November 2023),” the Bureau said.
Significantly, food inflation rate in November 2024 was 39.93% on a year-on-year basis, 7.08% points higher than the rate recorded in November 2023 (32.84%).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Oguduokwor Ward in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has formally announced the expulsion of the suspended National Vice Chairman (NVC) of the party in the Southeast, Mr. Ali Odefa from the party.
Ali Odefa was suspended from the party on September 11, 2024 by the Ward Executives of the party for his engagement in various anti party activities. The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki while ruling on suit NO: FHC/AI/CS/182/2024 further affirmed the suspension on November 29, 2024.
Announcing the expulsion of Mr. Odefa at a well- attended press conference on Wednesday, the Acting Chairman of the PDP Oguduokwor, Hon. Onyedikachi Herbert Ovuta flanked by other Ward Executives stated that the expulsion of the erstwhile NVC follows the recommendation of the Party’s disciplinary committee that affirmed the allegations of anti-party activities leveled.
According to the party chairman, “The expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa follows the report, findings and recommendations of the Ward Disciplinary Committee of the party which is in line with the provisions of the party constitution.”
The party announced that Mr. Ali Odefa by the virtue of his suspension, therefore “ceases to be a member of the party.”
The party’s statement reads in part:
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oguduokowor Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State hereby announce the expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa, the suspended National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South East Zone from the party which takes immediate effect.
“The expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa follows the report, findings and recommendations of the Ward Disciplinary Committee of the party which is in line with the provisions of the party constitution.
“Recall that Chief Ali Odefa was suspended from the party by the Ward leadership on 11th September 2024.
“Consequent upon the judgement of the Federal High Court Abakaliki in suit number FHC/AI/CS/182/2024 which affirmed the suspension of Chief Ali Odefa, the Disciplinary Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward after their sittings on the above subject matter unanimously recommended that Chief Ali Odefa the Suspended PDP National Vice Chairman South East Zone be expelled from the party.
“The Executive Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward on 11th December 2024 after receiving the report, findings and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee of PDP Oguduokwor Ward unanimously approved the expulsion of Chief Ali Odefa from the party which is compliance to section 58(1) and section 59(1) of the PDP constitution.
“Henceforth Chief Ali Odefa, seizes to be a member of our party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
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