The Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has begun the disbursement of over N20 million to 1947 Pilgrims who performed last year's Hajj exercise with the board.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Hajia Fatima Abolore-Jimoh in an interview in Ilorin, said the refund was sent to the board by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. She stated that the refund was to cater for un-rendered services for the affected pilgrims during the pilgrimage exercise in Makkah and Medinah.

Hajia Abolore-Jimoh said the board commenced the payment of refund following the approval to that effect by the Kwara State Government. Each of the pilgrims according to the Executive Secretary were receiving over N10,000.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board will tomorrow organize a special prayer and enlightenment programme for all the intending pilgrims from the state to this year's hajj. A statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Hajia Fatimah Abolore-Jimoh, said the programme would start at 9am.

It stated that the Amir hajj for this year's hajj exercise and former Grand Khadi of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Retired Justice Idris Haroon would be introduced to the intending pilgrims and lecture them on the purpose and significant of the hajj exercise.

The Statement therefore appealed to all the intending pilgrims to attend the prayer and enlightenment programme as crucial issues on the hajj exercise would also be discussed.