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NAHCON, Jaiz Bank agree on penalty for Hadaya fraudsters
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON and the Ja’iz Bank of Nigeria, (JBN) have agreed that strong penalties be introduced to deal with anyone involved in swindling Nigerian pilgrims on matters of Hadaya during holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Both organisations noted at a strategic planning meeting of their top management in Abuja that the step would serve as measures to protect intending pilgrims from falling victims to Hadaya fraudsters.
Hadaya is the amount being paid for sacrificial animals by pilgrims during Hajj. State welfare boards, commissions and agencies are to collect the sums and remit same to the designated accounts of JBN which is the appointed bank for collection of Hadaya payments.
According to a statement by the Head of Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, the meeting also reviewed previous engagements between the two organisations and strategize on how best to consolidate operations for the payment, slaughter and delivery of Hadaya meat to pilgrims who require it.
The statement added that it would also includes monitoring of the sacrifice and cost of Hadaya as determined by the Islamic Development Bank, IDB.
Usara stated that all intending pilgrims were however cautioned against committing their Hadaya charges to any individual apart from Ja’iz Bank.
The statement advised the pilgrims to deposit fees for Hadaya with
any JBN branch closest to them where they would be issued with receipts 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 IDB 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”, the statement stressed.
Responding, Managing Director of Ja’iz Bank, Mr. Hassan Usman, thanked NAHCON for the confidence reposed in them that has led to the bank’s choice as the IDB representatives for three straight years in Nigeria by the commission.
Meanwhile, NAHCON has concluded screening and orientation of 2019 Hajj National Medical Team, NMT members, which composition is shared on a ratio of 60/40% between states and the Commission, while funding is on the reverse order.
Usara explained in a separate statement that NAHCON’s mode of nomination follows a random balloting where whosoever’s registration number is generated through a token is shortlisted.
Thereafter, she said such individual is invited for screening and those who successfully scale through are appointed for the job.
“They are to treat all pilgrims equally, unmindful of a person’s class or prestige. They were also warned to treat pilgrims with utmost respect being the prime reason behind their assignment in Saudi Arabia”, Usara stated
She quoted Secretary of the Medical Committee from NAHCON, Wafiyyah Mustapha, to have counselled them against bickering after accepting the offer in the first instance, saying doing so would amount to breach of their undertaking.
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