Religion

Pilgrims who couldn’t make 2022 Hajj will be reimbursed – Professor Malik

By Web News 575

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to intending pilgrims who were unable to perform the 2022 Hajj exercise.

The Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik disclosed this during a press conference held at the State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan.

Addressing newsmen, the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik expressed regret that 150 of the state’s intending pilgrims could not take part in this year’s Hajj due to some circumstances beyond the board’s control.

He said Governor Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to whomever among the intending pilgrims that wishes to collect his/her money, while those that intend to use their money for the 2023 pilgrimage, would be the first to be considered for the exercise.

Professor Malik explained that they would not make any additional payment to the one they have already made this year as part of measures to compensate them.

On the issue of Basic Travelling Allowance of the pilgrims, Professor Malik maintained that the board officials did not short-change the pilgrims or divert the funds meant for payment of their BTA contrary to speculations in some quarters.

He however made it clear that all pilgrims from the state had gotten their BTA.

Professor Malik noted that the last batch of Oyo State pilgrims which consisted of 60 persons had been airlifted to Saudi Arabia on Monday 4th July 2022.

Iyabo Adebisi

Religion

Accusations of BTA funds diversions baseless – Oyo Pilgrims Board

By Web News 542

The Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik has denied insinuations that some pilgrims from the state who are already in Saudi Arabia have been denied their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).

Professor Malik who was reacting to reports being circulated via online channels, said the reports were unfounded and far from the true situation of things at the State’s Hajj camps in Saudi Arabia.

He emphasised that the Muslim Wing of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board has not diverted funds meant for the payment of BTA of the first batch of pilgrims from the state who are currently in Saudi Arabia.

Professor Malik said: “It is not true in any way, that the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) has diverted funds meant for the payment of BTA of the first batch of pilgrims from the state, who are currently in Saudi Arabia. Such a report can only be a figment of the imagination of the writer.”

“The truth of the matter is that there were delays in the release of BTA to the Board as a result of the late release of the circular guiding the payment of the allowances by the authorities in Abuja. This is not peculiar to Oyo State pilgrims, as all pilgrims across the states are faced with the same situation.”

“As a result of the delay, the first batch of travelers from Oyo State and several other states of the federation had to embark on the trip to Saudi before the BTA could be secured. The delay, however, does not indicate that any of the travelers would lose their entitlements.

“By the time the second batch of travelers were leaving Nigeria, only a fraction of the entire BTA had been secured and it was concluded that each of the travelers be made to get $400 while those who were already in Saudi Arabia were paid $200 each, pending the release of the entire money by the Nigerian authorities.

“It must be placed on record that the dollar scarcity which had hit the foreign exchange market is a key contributor to the delay to secure the required BTA.”

“While the delayed payment of the BTA is regretted, we have to place on record that there is no intention to divert anyone’s entitlement or deny any of the pilgrims their due. We make bold to undertake that each of the pilgrims will get what is approved for them in the course of the holy pilgrimage.”

“The welfare of every pilgrim remains our utmost concern at all times.” Professor Malik added.

Iyabo Adebisi