The Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has accused the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) of blackmail and deception regarding the recent Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, AHUON challenged NAHCON to reveal the truth about the incidents at ‘Tent A’ in Muna, where Nigerian dignitaries faced harassment and disgrace.
AHUON questioned NAHCON’s claim that the 2024 Hajj exercise went smoothly, describing it as misleading. The association demanded that NAHCON disclose the number of pilgrims who participated in the Tent A services, how they obtained their visas, and access permits to the VIP camps.
AHUON’s national president, Abdullateef Yusuf Ekundayo, and general secretary, Muhammad Nasil Chamo, signed the statement, which aimed to set the record straight for the benefit of Nigerians. They expressed disappointment at NAHCON’s alleged attempt to conceal the truth and called for transparency.
“As regards the ‘Tent A’ debacle, under normal practice, our members are responsible for the purchase of the VIP tent on behalf of pilgrims through the Hajj e-track. This year, it was on record that 27 companies purchased Tent A service on behalf of 616 pilgrims only, on the Hajj e-track portal. However, NAHCON through their accomplices at the service provider’s office created additional off-the-record tents outside the e-track system that were purchased and paid for in cash, a day to the beginning of ha rites. The commission should tell Nigerians how many pilgrims participated in the Tent A services and from where those large numbers of pilgrims got their visas from, access permit to the VIP camps.
“It is, therefore, an unfounded allegation to blackmail our members as the culprits on the issue. We dare to ask the Commission that collected $100 service charge on each of our pilgrims (total about $1,400,000.00) amounting to over N2 billion and will not liaise with the service provider to ensure that service paid for is delivered fully to our Nigerian pilgrims. We also challenge NAHCON to name those Tour Operators they claimed were involved in Tent A racketeering.
“AHOUN will not continue to stand and watch the organisation that is supposed to promote transparency, good ethics and discipline in the management of Hajj in the country conniving to deprive the unsuspecting pilgrims of their right to efficient and stress-free ha every year. We can’t continue to watch our huge and legitimate investments being rubbished and made scapegoats every year by an organisation that by law should support our members to deliver the right services to Nigerian pilgrims,” AHOUN statement read in part.
The association while calling on the National Assembly, as part of its oversight functions, to probe the commission on these and other issues relating to the management of Hajj in Nigeria, said none of the international pilgrims received a dime from the N90 billion graciously approved and released as subsidy to ease the burden of the high exchange rate for pilgrims.
“We therefore call upon the leadership of the National Assembly as part of their oversight functions, to investigate further, beyond the cosmetic ‘world press conference’ on these and other issues relating to the management of Hajj in Nigeria. We would also like to call on the NAHCON leadership to look inward and stop looking away and blaming our members for their perpetual failures to deliver smooth and hitch-free Hajj for the Nigerians pilgrim, year in year out.
“We would like Nigerians to know that none of the international Pilgrims received a dime out of the N90 Billion, graciously approved and released as subsidy to ease the burden of the high exchange rate, despite many promises by the Commission that our Pilgrims will be considered in any concession that is received from the government.
“For the past 8 years, (with exception of the post COVID-19,Hajj),the Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia allocates 20,000 slots for the Nigerian private Tour Operators (International) which AHOUN represents and 75,000 to the conventional Pilgrims.
“This year, about 14,000 Pilgrims performed the Hajj exercise through the international segment. But we repeat, none of our members benefited from the N90 Billion as NAHCON claimed to have distributed to Nigerians Pilgrims despite our demands,” the group added.
