Your Organisation is‘Dirty’, Reps Tell NAHCON Chairman

The Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investi­gating the National Hajj Commis­sion (NAHCON) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Board over their handling of the 2024 Hajj exercise on Wednesday, described the agency as dirty.

It would be recalled that the House in July 2024, set up the panel following the adoption of a motion titled, ‘Urgent need to investigate the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the FCTA Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board over the shoddy arrange­ment and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj ex­ercise,’ sponsored by Hon. Omar Bio from Kwara State.

The President Bola Tinubu ad­ministration had in May, provid­ed N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 hajj exercise, a move criticised by many Nigerians.

Despite the Federal Govern­ment’s intervention, some state governors lamented the handling of the operation by NAHCON, particularly the accommodation in the city of Muna and inade­quate basic travel allowance for pilgrims.

Subsequently, President Tinu­bu in August, sacked the chair­man of the commission, Jalal Arabi, and replaced him with Abdullahi Usman.

At the investigative hearing on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chair­man of the Committee and mem­ber representing Jibia/Kaita Fed­eral Constituency, Sada Soli, told the NAHCON chairman that he is running a dirty agency.

“Mr. Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty,” the Katsina lawmaker said.

“Yes, I agree,” Usman respond­ed.

Soli in his earlier remark, stated that it was the commit­tee’s mandate to ensure future hajj operations are organised in a manner devoid of unnecessary bottlenecks.

He said, “Today marks a sig­nificant step in our ongoing effort to address the various challeng­es faced by Nigerian pilgrims during the most recent hajj oper­ations and to ensure we develop comprehensive solutions that improve future pilgrimages.

“As you are aware, the hajj is one of the most important spiritual journeys for millions of Muslims around the world, including many Nigerians. It is a deeply personal and transforma­tive experience. One that pilgrims invest a great deal of faith, time, and resources. Unfortunately, this year’s hajj was met with several operational difficulties and com­plaints from our citizens, many of whom felt that the services pro­vided did not meet the standards they expected.

“These challenges, ranging from logistical issues to inade­quate services, are what have brought us here today. The House of Representatives has mandated this committee to carry out a thor­ough investigation into the root causes of these problems and to recommend strategies that will prevent their recurrence in the future.

“I want to take this opportu­nity to express our gratitude to all stakeholders present here to­day, from officials of NAHCON to travel agencies, airlines, and other service providers, as well as the pilgrims who have come forward with their experienc­es. Your participation is vital to the success of this process. This hearing is not just about identifying problems, but also about working together to find solutions that will ensure future hajj operations are seamless, effi­cient, and worthy of the expecta­tions placed upon them.

“The insights, experiences, and recommendations shared during these hearings will play a critical role in informing our final report, which will be submitted to the House. We are committed to transparency, thoroughness, and fairness in this investigation, and we ask for your full cooperation in making this process as produc­tive as possible.”