The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN) has announced the suspension of activities related to 2025 hajj due to the failure of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to pay some refunds to its members.
A statement signed by the President of AHOUN, AbdulLateef Yusuff Ekundayo, said the decision was made after its NEC met with its Board of Trustees (BoT), agreeing that the action is necessary to ensure that all its requests before NAHCON are duly met, “especially our accumulated refunds over the years.”
“It is with a deep sense of responsibility that we write to issue this directive that all actions with respect to the Hajj 2025 preparation be suspended until further notice.”
It therefore urged members who had made payment for hajj 2025 form not to submit it until a counter directive is given while those that have collected the form, submitted it, and made payment should send the name of their company to the zonal vice president.
“It is worthy of note that NAHCON responded to our several letters of request only on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, giving an excuse that Hajj processing should not be delayed to align with the Saudi Hajj calendar. This, to us, is their usual tactics over the years with regards to the issues of accumulated refunds with them and can no longer be tolerated.
“We implore our dear members to stay action and continue to support our determination to explore all legal means of recovering our members’ rights and set a good precedent for both parties. This period is no doubt challenging, but with your support and prayers, there is a light at the end of the tunnel Bi’izinilLahi Rahman,” he said.
While the phone number of the spokesperson for the commission, Fatima Sanda Usara could not be reached to get its position, a press statement she signed on Sunday indicated that the refund was a caution fee paid by the operators.
The statement was issued after a meeting between NAHCON’s Commissioner Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, and leaders of the operators.
Elegushi explained that the caution deposit was meant to compensate any pilgrim with genuine claims of disservice by a tour operator.
He said the normal procedure after every Hajj was for NAHCON to refund pilgrims that did not go for the Hajj from the defaulting company’s caution deposit. Hence, advertisement is first placed in any national daily newspaper inviting complaints from pilgrims.
“In 2023, out of 241 tour operators that deposited the caution deposit of N5million each, 139 requested and received their refunds. 70 companies requested for a roll-over of their deposit to 2024 instead of a refund. The remaining number were those yet to be cleared of allegations and those yet to apply for their refunds or roll over.”
He said for 2024 refund of caution deposit, the invitation for complaint ended on 10th of August this year after which only 26 companies had applied for refund as at the time of the meeting. The process was still ongoing.
He explained that due to new developments in the commission, payment could not be made at that time without an approving officer who was the Chairman/CEO.
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