Katsina State Deputy Governor Qs Mannir Yakubu said the recent refunds of payments for the Hajj 2020/2021, totaling N768,930,455.30 to 599 to intending pilgrims is a further demonstration of the commitment of Governor Aminu Bello Masari administration to openness and accountable leadership.

The 2020/2021 Hajj was cancelled by the Saudi authorities due to the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The state deputy governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Musa Kallah on Wednesday night, noted that “the welfare of pilgrims and residents will continue to remain the prioritised of the state government.”

Alhaji Mannir Yakubu explained that measures were taken by the Masari administration to ensure that no intending pilgrim was shortchanged or under paid.

He added that the measures taken by the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, include a pre-verification exercise, which led to the display of names of pilgrims and the amount they paid at all zonal offices prior to the refunds.

Alhaji Yakubu’s reaction came after the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society orgainsation that reports Hajj activities, commended the policies adopted by Katsina State government for the implementation of the refunds to intending pilgrims.

He said that the state government will continue to give all necessary assistance and guide to the intending pilgrims whenever the need may arise.

The Deputy Governor commended the efforts of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board officials under the Executive Director for successfully conducting the refunds to intending pilgrims for 2020/2021.

The Executive Director of Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare, Alhaji Suleiman Nuhu Kuki, had in press released in August given details of the refund exercise to the general public.

According to him, the refunds were in five batches as the board refunded the sum of N407,834,977 to 331 intending pilgrims in the first batch, with N176,085,477.65 released to 134 intending pilgrims in the second batch, while a total sum of N77,330,000.00 paid to 63 intending pilgrims in the third batch.

In the fourth batch the board refunded 67 intending pilgrims with a total sum of N80,040,000.00 and N27,640,000.00 for 24 intending pilgrims in batch five.

The board has refunded a total of N768,930,455.30 in the five batches to a total of 599 intending pilgrims.

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