Irregular Power Supply: Saudi Arabia Pays Over N375 Million Damages To Kano Pilgrims

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The  authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia has disbursed the  sum of over N 375 million as compensation to Kano pilgrims.

The money is to be remitted directly into  the various bank accounts of the about 6,146  Kano Pilgrims to the Holy Land in 2023 as compensation for any perceived inconveniences suffered during a power outage incident at their Mina Camp during the 2023 Hajj operation.

The Source reports that the power outage also resulted in severe disruption of essential services to the Pilgrims at the camp with its concomitant effects.

Alhaji Lamin Rabiu Danbappa, the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board who disclosed this at a meeting of the Board ,also informed that the  refund was channelled through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON by the Saudi authorities.

A statement from the Board’s spokesperson, Suleiman Dederi, explained that each of the over six thousand pilgrims involved will be receiving the sum of N61,080 as personal and collective inconveniences experienced.

The said money was deducted from the total Hajj package paid by the concerned Pilgrims.

According to him, the refund process, has been methodically structured to avoid any incidents of short-changing of the beneficiaries .

The Pilgrims Board, therefore, reassured of its commitment to the improvement and protection of the welfare of pilgrims.

It, also, expressed its dedication towards collaborating with all relevant authorities towards ensuring quality service delivery.

The Board, however, called on Local Government Hajj Officers across the State to scale up efforts towards promoting the sale of Hajj seats for the 2025 pilgrimage.

It expressed concern over the slow response to the 2025 Hajj exercise which it blamed partly on lack of awareness.