By Disun Amosun
The House of Representatives, through its Ad-hoc Committee on the investigation of the National Hajj Commission and FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board over the 2024 Hajj exercise has raised eyebrows over motives behind glaring discrepancies in granting subsidies to pilgrims.
Committee Chairman Rep. Sada Soli, during the hearing yesterday queried NAHCON over what seemed like a deliberate process to shortchange some Nigerian Pilgrims for personal gains of certain interests.
Commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi, had represented the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulahi Saleh Usman, but Soli insisted the chairman must appear in person.
Engaging the Commissioner, the committee chairman said, “How come you are giving subsidies in full to some, others in half, while others none at all, suggesting foul play in the Commission?
The Commissioner in his response said those that did not enjoy subsidy came after they had closed the registration of pilgrims that would enjoy the privilege.
Soli said, “As long as they are Nigerians and pilgrims they are to enjoy the same privilege. We are speaking for the average Nigerian who would save money for five years and yet they would go to Saudi and you would mess them up because of simple things to do.”
“Be disciplined and do the right thing and close your eyes, you must not bring enterprise in what people spend their lives to invest in. You are giving subsidies at will because you have been given the authority. Who gave you the subsidy? Did the Federal Government tell you what to do with it? You are selective because it will favour you at the end of the day.”
The Committee also grilled the Commission on the disparity in basic travel allowances and exchange rates for pilgrims as well as patronizing foreign airlines for the pilgrims airlift to the detriment of local carriers among other issues.
Rep Soli promised the matter would be followed to a logical conclusion without fear or favour.
A member of the Committee, Rep Mohammed Umar Bio, who moved the motion for the probe said despite the huge resources made available for the 2024 Hajj, its expenditure was not justifiable, virtually rendering the 2024 Hajj operations a failure.
“Despite the huge amount of money by Nigerian pilgrims, NAHCON also received support of N90 billion from the Federal Government. We are surprised by all this inflow that NAHCON has shown an abysmal performance in 2024”, he said.
Chairman of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Usman, who later joined the hearing admitted to the malfeasance within the agency.
Soli, while addressing the NAHCON boss, told him the agency was dirty.
“Mr Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty,” Soli said.
“Yes, I agree,” the NAHCO Chairman responded.