COVID-19: C'River Muslims Pilgrims to get refund as Saudi authority cancels 2020 Hajj

Chairman, Cross River State  Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji  Rabilu Abdullahi Maimaje 

Muslims Pilgrims in Cross River State who had made payment for the 2020 Hajj have been asked to apply for refund as Saudi Arabia authorities have cancelled the function for non-resident due to the global outbreak of Coronavirus.

Chairman, Cross River State  Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji  Rabilu Abdullahi Maimaje revealed this in a statement issued recently in Calabar.

He said that " the Saudi authorities have restricted this year's hajj to those who were already in the holy land before the outbreak of the global pandemic, Coronavirus, codenamed COVID-19".

Maimaje maintained that the "decision is consequent upon safety and health concerns for the pilgrims  who will be performing hajj  at the of the Holy cities of Mecca and Medina".

The Chairman revealed that the Board has already paid a courtesy call on Rev.Fr.Bob Etta, Senior Special Adviser on Religious Affairs to Governor Ben Ayade, to notify him of the development.