Reps Indict Hajj Commission Over N90bn Subsidy

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 several infractions.

Chaired by the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Sada Soli, the committee has submitted its report, outlining its findings and recommending reforms to prevent similar issues in future Hajj operations.

At a plenary on July 14, 2024, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the House set up the ad hoc committee to probe the operations of NAHCON and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Board following a motion sponsored by Mr. Omar Bio, representing Buruten/Kaima Federal Constituency of Kwara State.

In May 2024, the Bola Tinubu-led government provided a N90bn subsidy for the Hajj exercise.

This move sparked discontent among many Nigerians, particularly in light of the ongoing hardships exacerbated by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Critics argued that the subsidy should have been directed toward addressing more pressing national issues rather than a religious obligation.

Despite the Federal Government’s intervention, state governors expressed dissatisfaction with NAHCON’s handling of the operation, particularly regarding accommodation in Muna and the inadequate Basic Travel Allowance for pilgrims.

In response to growing criticism, President Tinubu relieved NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, of his duties in August 2024, replacing him with Abdullahi Usman.

Prior to this, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had indicted Arabi and NAHCON’s secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, in connection with an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud scheme.

The Reps committee accepted memoranda from key Hajj stakeholders, including the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria, which represents licensed private tour operators, detailing severe challenges faced in dealings with NAHCON.

barring upgrades on the e-track platform, causing distress among high-profile pilgrims such as governors and traditional rulers.

Furthermore, many pilgrims who paid premium rates were housed in substandard facilities, leading to disputes and dissatisfaction.

The investigation revealed a lack of harmony between NAHCON and licensed tour operators, marked by poor communication and mutual distrust.

Tour operators raised concerns about discrepancies in NAHCON’s fee structure, citing inconsistencies in charges imposed on private operators versus state-sponsored pilgrims.

Hostility between the two entities hindered smooth coordination, leading to service failures that directly impacted pilgrims.

The exclusion of tour operators from key policy decisions deepened the divide.

The committee raised significant concerns regarding NAHCON’s financial management.

Pilgrims paid as much as N9m each, yet there was no clear breakdown of charges or justification for the high costs.

The N90bn federal subsidy was not transparently distributed, with some pilgrims benefiting more than others without clear criteria.

There were allegations of financial mismanagement within NAHCON, which contributed to the dismissal of its chairman over fraud-related concerns.

Additionally, NAHCON transferred the entire subsidy amount into its offshore accounts in Saudi Arabia, but there was no tracking mechanism to verify how these funds were spent.

The committee also examined Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Agreement with Saudi Arabia, which mandates that a Saudi airline airlift 50% of Nigerian pilgrims.

This arrangement was seen as potentially disadvantageous to Nigerian airlines, limiting their participation and affecting the local aviation industry.

The committee recommended that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Aviation Ministry clarify the terms of this agreement to protect Nigerian airlines’ interests.

The report also highlighted significant gaps in NAHCON’s regulatory oversight, citing a lack of uniform service delivery across different states.

Coordination failures between NAHCON and state pilgrims’ welfare boards resulted in varying levels of service quality for pilgrims from different states.

verify whether the funds were used strictly for subsidy purposes or diverted for other expenses. Furthermore, there were inconsistencies in how much each pilgrim actually benefited from the subsidy, with reports suggesting that some pilgrims received little or no reduction in their total Hajj fees.

Another critical issue was the absence of a structured refund mechanism for surplus funds. Some state pilgrims were downgraded in accommodation or received lower-quality services than promised, yet there was no evidence that excess funds were refunded to them.

Additionally, the committee discovered that some service providers had refunded certain amounts to NAHCON, but there was no clear record of these refunds reaching the affected pilgrims. This raised further questions about the handling of surplus funds and the overall accountability of NAHCON’s financial operations.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Usara has pledged the readiness of the agency to continuously seek ways to improve on Hajj operations for intending pilgrims.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Fatima denied knowledge of NAHCON’s indictment, saying, “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.

“However, NAHCON has always reiterated its readiness to continue working on improving Hajj operations for Nigerian pilgrims and will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders interested in improving the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.” [The Punch]