The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria over the 2024 Hajj exercise has found the commission guilty of multiple infractions.
Chaired by Sada Soli, who represents Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in Katsina State, the committee submitted its findings and recommended reforms to prevent similar issues in future Hajj operations.
Following a motion by Omar Bio of Buruten/Kaima Federal Constituency, the House set up the committee on July 14, 2024, under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas’ leadership.
The probe was initiated due to concerns over NAHCON’s handling of Hajj operations, despite the Bola Tinubu administration’s N90 billion subsidy for the exercise in May. The subsidy, intended to alleviate costs, drew criticism as many Nigerians questioned the prioritization of religious sponsorship over pressing national economic needs.
State governors also voiced dissatisfaction with NAHCON’s operations, particularly regarding inadequate accommodation in Mina and insufficient Basic Travel Allowance for pilgrims.
The backlash led President Tinubu to dismiss NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi in August, replacing him with Abdullahi Usman. This decision followed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s indictment of Arabi and NAHCON Secretary Abdullahi Kontagora over an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud.
The committee’s report, exclusively obtained by The PUNCH, uncovered severe infractions, including financial mismanagement, logistical failures, and a lack of transparency.
It revealed substandard accommodation in Mina and Arafat, with many pilgrims, despite paying premium fees, housed in poor conditions. Overcrowding in VIP tents worsened after Saudi authorities restricted upgrades on the e-track platform, frustrating high-profile pilgrims such as governors and traditional rulers.
A key finding was the strained relationship between NAHCON and licensed tour operators, characterized by poor communication and mutual distrust.
Tour operators raised concerns over NAHCON’s inconsistent fee structure, with discrepancies in charges between private operators and state-sponsored pilgrims. The exclusion of tour operators from policy decisions further deepened the divide, leading to service failures that directly impacted pilgrims.
Financial mismanagement was a major concern, as pilgrims paid up to N9 million each without a clear breakdown of costs.
The N90 billion subsidy lacked transparency, with allegations that some pilgrims benefited more than others without a clear distribution formula. The committee also discovered that NAHCON transferred the entire subsidy to offshore accounts in Saudi Arabia without proper tracking mechanisms to account for expenditure.
The probe also examined Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Agreement with Saudi Arabia, which mandates that Saudi airlines airlift 50% of Nigerian pilgrims. The committee viewed this arrangement as unfavourable to Nigerian airlines, limiting their participation in the Hajj operations. It recommended that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Aviation Ministry review the agreement to better protect local airlines.
Inconsistencies in NAHCON’s oversight were also highlighted, as service quality varied across states due to coordination failures with state pilgrim welfare boards. Transportation challenges added to the distress, with elderly pilgrims left to walk long distances due to poor bus coordination, and others stranded at checkpoints.
The committee also exposed financial mismanagement within the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, where officials overspent on staff delegation, exceeding the approved number.
The report revealed flaws in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s handling of the Personal Travel Allowance, noting operational pressures caused by exchange rate fluctuations and resistance to electronic payments. To address this, the CBN recommended NAHCON submit the full list of intending pilgrims at least 30 working days before departure to ensure smoother financial transactions.
To prevent a repeat of these failures, the committee proposed publishing a detailed breakdown of Hajj fees and reviewing the PTA system to ensure fair disbursement. It called for an independent audit of NAHCON’s financial records and stricter penalties for service providers who fail contractual obligations.
Additionally, it recommended revising the Bilateral Air Agreement to protect Nigerian airlines and establishing a Hajj Tribunal to resolve disputes efficiently.
The committee flagged an unaccounted N4 billion from the N90 billion subsidy. While NAHCON claimed to have used the funds to sponsor officials for Hajj, it failed to provide verifiable records of these individuals, raising concerns about mismanagement.
Furthermore, refunds from service providers were reportedly made to NAHCON, but affected pilgrims received no compensation, highlighting accountability issues in fund handling.
Meanwhile, NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Usara, denied knowledge of any indictment, stating, “What I read on the pages of newspapers are resolutions and recommendations for further action. Personally, I am yet to see the full report so I cannot ascertain your claims.”
She reaffirmed NAHCON’s commitment to improving Hajj operations, promising continued collaboration with stakeholders to enhance the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
