By Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) should have adequately accounted for how the N90bn subsidy paid by the Federal Government for the 2024 Hajj exercise was spent.
This was at a hearing organized by the Adhoc Committee of the House of Representatives to investigate the NAHCON and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Abuja.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Olarewaju Elegusi, said he was aware that the subsidy was paid but could not tell the committee how the money was disbursed.
When queried by the Chairman of the Committee, Sada Soli, Elegusi said, “I am aware of a subsidy of N90bn by the Federal Government. I did not see the document until the former Chairman addressed a press conference and stated how it was disbursed. The money was paid in naira through the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
He said some subsidies were remitted to the federal government through the CBN and promised to furnish the committee with the required documents at the next sitting.
*Operators urge Hajj to be managed by the private sector
Also, the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) said yesterday that the private sector should manage Hajj operations in the country.
The Vice President of the Kano branch of the association, Mr Haruna Ismail, should be proactive in implementing the right measures and laws to drive this process.
The stakeholders recommended that NAHCON be limited to regulatory and supervisory duties only.
He said that the future of Hajj is in the hands of the private operators in Nigeria.
He said AHOUN was ready to provide expertise and support for the required legislative process.
“We recommend the committee visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to verify some of our submissions and interact with some active players in providing service to Nigerian Pilgrims.
“The committee should look at developing a standard operational practice for all operators in the Hajj management chain. This will act as a model upon which future Haji reforms shall be placed on.
“The need for a joint committee of all players in the Hajj management in the country is long overdue to review Hajj processes, reports, and complaints constantly.
“As we gear up to full private operator’s control, we suggest this committee recommend a regime where the share of the slots should be increased gradually by 10,000 slots annually, thereby building the capacity to take over the operation,” he said.
Also, the Managing Director of Comerel Travels, Mr Abubakar Siddeeq, said that the management of the Hajj must evolve around qualified individuals who thoroughly understand the complexities of Hajj operations.
He said that the problem of Hajj in Nigeria has been so vile that it has been changing its name from one name to another.
According to him, no hajj operation will succeed in Nigeria if such a company is the service provider for Nigerian pilgrims.
Siddeeq said that section 3 of the NAHCON Establishment Act should include representatives of tour operators and state welfare pilgrims’ boards and agencies on the NAHCON board.
“NAHCON has no a single pilgrim in Nigeria saying that tour operators and the state pilgrims welfare boards are the owners of the pilgrims.
“The problems in hajj operations will continue since the owners of the pilgrims are excluded from the board of NAHCON.
“This Act that we are working on and discussing lacks a clear definition of private tour operators, agencies, and agencies are not enough.
“It may create a confusion. It has to be spelled out clearly. Private tour operators and what they do, they organise hard for groups and individuals.
“Priority should be given to implementing the existing Act because there is nothing wrong with it, only the amendment we mention. It is an acceptable document, but it cannot work correctly.
“NAHCON should enhance its regulatory oversight by implementing effective regulations and enforcement mechanisms. It has nothing to do with being a party in the operation. It oversees what is done there.
“NAHCON should not determine hajj fairs for states. Why will NAHCON license private tour operators and license state pilgrims and boards and produce a template for the Hajj fair for them and announce it?
“That is not its business. Otherwise, they can announce a fair for tour operators. It’s not NAHCON business to do that,” he said.
Siddeeq said that the states go around and get the standard of accommodation they need for their pilgrims.
He said having a template with 3000 as the benchmark for accommodation in Makka by NAHCON does not make sense because the accommodation is different.
