Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a registered faith-based civil society organisation, has renewed its call for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and state Muslim pilgrims boards to refund excess payments to over 44,000 Nigerian pilgrims who participated in the 2025 Hajj.
The IHR, through its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, stated that these pilgrims are entitled to refunds averaging between ₦400,000 and ₦437,000 each. This discrepancy arose due to differences between the exchange rate used to calculate the 2025 Hajj fare and the actual rates at which service payments were ultimately made.
IHR emphasized that with the 2025 Hajj accounts reconciliation now complete, NAHCON should promptly initiate the process of refunding the excess amounts to the affected pilgrims.
The Core Issue: Exchange Rate Discrepancies
The crux of the matter lies in the fluctuating exchange rates during the period when Hajj fares were determined and when actual payments for services were processed.
- The 2025 Hajj fare was initially calculated using an exchange rate of ₦1,600 per US dollar.
- This resulted in pilgrims from the northern part of Nigeria being charged $4,704.18, while their counterparts from the south were charged $4,908.18, pushing the overall cost beyond ₦8 million.
- However, when NAHCON finalized payments for services between February 13 and 15, the official exchange rate had decreased to between ₦1,507 and ₦1,520 per US dollar.
- This difference left an unspent balance of approximately ₦80,000 to ₦93,000 per pilgrim.
IHR highlighted that exchange rates throughout February and March, when the majority of Hajj service payments were made, did not exceed ₦1,507 – ₦1,535. The organization estimates that about 44,000 pilgrims who made full payments before the February 10 deadline are each due a refund of approximately ₦437,000.
NAHCON’s Previous Acknowledgment and Inaction
IHR further pointed out that NAHCON had previously acknowledged the possibility of refunds, indicating that action would be taken upon completion of the 2025 Hajj reconciliations. Despite the completion of these reconciliations, the refunds have not yet been disbursed.
A Call for Immediate Action and Transparency
IHR is now urging immediate action from NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, emphasizing that the 2025 Hajj operational accounts have been reconciled.
- IHR recognizes that higher estimated rates were initially used to calculate the 2025 Hajj fare to avoid the potential need to request additional payments from pilgrims later.
- However, the actual payments for services were made using a lower exchange rate than initially projected, creating a surplus.
The organization underscored that other countries facing similar overpayment situations have already refunded their pilgrims, and Nigeria should follow suit as a demonstration of transparency and accountability.
The Impact on Pilgrims and the Importance of Refunds
IHR emphasized that the refund would significantly benefit the affected pilgrims, helping them recover a portion of their expenses, especially considering the economic hardships many faced while undertaking the pilgrimage. The organization stressed the importance of timely disbursement to all eligible pilgrims.
Recommendations for Processing Refunds
IHR has called upon NAHCON and the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to collaborate in processing the refunds and ensuring their swift distribution to all eligible pilgrims. This collaborative effort is deemed essential for a smooth and efficient refund process.
