By Disun Amosun
In line with international best practices, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) like its counterparts in other climes has no business calling the shots in the preparations and executions of Hajj operations in the country; it should rather be limited to Regulatory and Supervisory roles.
Key stakeholders in the country’s Hajj operations, the Association for Hajj and Umrah operators Of Nigeria AHUON and the Tour Operators Association and other service providers, that came up with the recommendation during a House of Representatives Investigative Hearing in Abuja on the conduct of the 2024 Pilgrims operation, further recommended that Hajj Operations in Nigeria should be managed by the private sector.
The Stakeholders said with NAHCON saddled with regulation and Supervisory roles, it should be proactive in putting the right measures in place to regulate and guide the process.
The Vice President, AHUON, Haruna Ismail said the future of flaw-free Hajj operations in Nigeria lies in the hands of Private Operators.
According to him, no hajj operation will succeed in Nigeria with organisations with any direct bearing on Pilgrims, being the one to determine fees, airfares, and allocation of accommodation in Mekka and generally calling the shots.
The Committee Chairman Hon. Sada Soli after going over the disbursement pattern of the N90 billion subsidy paid by the FG for the 2024 Hajj exercise expressed utter disappointment at the way it was handled, adding that NAHCON did not properly give a proper account.
NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Olanrewaju Elegushi in the interaction with the Committee said he was aware that subsidy was paid but he is unable to tell the committee how it was disbursed.
He stated further “Though I’m aware of the N90b subsidy by the FG, I did not see or hear about it until the Commission’s former chairman addressed a news conference on the disbursement. The money was paid in naira through the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN”
Elegushi said part of the subsidy was remitted back to the Consolidated Revenue Account through the CBN and promised to furnish the committee with relevant documents in the next sitting.
The committee was able to establish that for the 2023 Hajj operations, 6 million Saudi Riyals of Nigerian money was trapped in the country mainly from payments for goods and services not provided to Nigerian pilgrims as charged.
NAHCON in its response said such trapped funds, not necessarily from unpaid services, will be repatriated and what is due to every pilgrims would be eventually paid them.