The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) today, 28th May 2019, had a strategic planning meeting with top management of Ja’iz Bank of Nigeria (JBN) to review previous engagements and strategize on how best to consolidate operations for payment, slaughter, delivery of Hadaya meat to pilgrims who require it, monitoring of the sacrifice and cost of Hadaya as determined by Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
After reflections on available statistics indicating rate of Hadaya racketeering in and outside the country, it was decided that strong penalties must be introduced to deal with anyone involved in the swindling Nigerian pilgrims on matters of Hadaya. Measures to protect intending pilgrims from falling victims to Hadaya fraudsters were also drawn.
Consequently, intending pilgrims are cautioned against committing their Hadaya charges to any individual apart from Ja’iz Bank. They are to deposit the fees with any JBN branch closest to them whence they should be issued with a receipt confirming payment made. Alternatively, any committee set up by state pilgrims welfare boards to collect the said amount, due to absence of JBN in the area, must remit the collected funds into JBN, the authorised representatives of IsDB in Nigeria and thereafter distribute receipts to the clients.
Consequently, onshore and offshore complaint lines through which intending pilgrims are to report any individual collecting Hadaya fees from them or someone they know will be released.
In his response, Managing Director of Ja’iz Bank, Mr Hassan Usman, thanked the Commission for the confidence reposed in them that has led to the Commission choosing them as IDB representatives in Nigeria in three straight years.
