Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing) has assured intending Hajj pilgrims that their payment is intact inspite of the cancellation of the 2020 attendance of the global religious event.
Chairman of the Board, Prof Sayed Malik, stated this while briefing newsmen on the development in his office at Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan.
Malik stated that the decision was to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic currently ravaging the whole world, considering the large number of people that would wish to perform the 2020 Hajj.
He added that the decision was to prevent infection of COVID 19 and curtail its spread among the international Pilgrims, who would have converged on the holy land for the hajj exercise.
He hinted that all intending pilgrims that have deposited their monies with the board should rest assured that their deposits were intact and safe till the 2021 Hajj, adding that those wishing to get their money back could request a refund of their monies by writing to the board.
Malik said, “Looking at the global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 and the decision of the Saudi government to stop international pilgrims from partaking in the 2020 hajj exercise, we want to assure the pilgrims from Oyo State that have deposited monies for the exercise that their money is intact with us.
“If anybody wants to collect his or her money, all they need is to write the board, but if they want to keep it with the board till 2021 hajj, we will still keep the money for them.”