The Lagos State Government will begin the disbursement of N30 Million Refund to 2017 pilgrims on Wednesday, May 9th at the Lagos Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board premises, GRA, Ikeja.
The State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Amir-ul-Hajj, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef disclosed this at the weekend while briefing newsmen on the preparation for the 2018 Hajj exercise.
He explained that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure that last year’s pilgrims get their refunds without any stress, adding that each pilgrim will receive N12, 509.81.
According to the Commissioner, pilgrims from Agege, Ajeromi, Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin and Apapa are billed for Wednesday, 9th May while those from Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja will be attended to on Thursday.
Abdul-Lateef continued that Pilgrims from Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Mushin are fixed for Friday and those pilgrims from Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu and Surulere are to be given their refunds on Monday, 14th May.
He, however, urged pilgrims to follow the arrangements in order to ensure crowd control on a daily basis and to make the job easier for the government officials who will attend to them, stressing that the refund is not a gift but money meant for some services not rendered to the pilgrims in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Amir–ul–Hajj has also disclosed that all intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj must submit their international passports on or before May 14th to enable the Board forward same to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia for processing of visas.
He said registration and collection of the National Identity Card is compulsory for all intending pilgrims of 2018 hajj, saying that “In order to assist the intending pilgrims to eliminate the problem associated with registration and collection of National Identity Card, we have mobilized the National Identity Management Commission to open a centre at the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. Pilgrims are therefore advised to visit the centre from Monday, May 7th for necessary assistance”.
