Hajj Reporters
The Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards has become a symbol of transparency and accountability for sister organisations to emulate. They achieved this feat by responding to the request made by Hajj Reporters on the details of refund being made to Hajj 2020/2021 intending pilgrims who could not perform Hajj due to its cancellation by the Saudi Authorities because of COVID-19.
FOI: CSO writes State Pilgrims Board on Hajj Refund, Seeks details of Hajj Deposits
In its response, dated 26th of August 2021 and addressed to the Editor-in-Chief of Hajj Reporters, the board gave details of the refunds and provided the number of pilgrims registered by it.
FOI: CSO Reminds State Pilgrims Boards On Hajj Refund Details
The letter, which was signed by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Malam Salisu Sani Anchau, on behalf of the Acting Overseer, read in part: “This is to provide you with the possible information as requested.
“Please finds below the permissible information as per the above mentioned Sections of the FOA”.
The boards gave details of numbers of registered pilgrims for Hajj 2020 and 2021 as 2,383 and the total number of pilgrims refunded for Hajj 2020 as 159.
The board also named the financial institutions where the money of the pilgrims are deposited.
It will be recalled that Hajj Reporters had earlier requested some states Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards demanding for details of Hajj 2020 and Hajj 2021 refund details.
A reminder letter was also sent after the first set of States failed to respond to the initial request.
The second letter read in part: “In line with the requirements for the fulfillment of Freedom of Information Act, Hajj Reporters Media Ltd, the Publishers of Hajj Reporters, has sent reminder letter to the first set of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to provide details of Hajj 2020/2021 refunds.
“The organisation had earlier written the affected agencies requesting for detailed information on Hajj refund, but none responded.”
Meanwhile, Hajj Reporters are optimistic of positive responses from the concerned states before escalating their next line of action.
