Controversy Engulfs National Hajj Commission Over Alleged Mismanagement of N95.75bn
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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is at the centre of a storm over allegations of mismanagement and withholding of approximately N95.75bn, with the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN) demanding an urgent investigation.
The controversy includes claims of siphoning President Bola Tinubu’s N90bn intervention funds, intended to mitigate the impact of the high dollar-to-naira exchange rate during the 2024 hajj operation. Allegations also involve the maltreatment of Nigerian pilgrims, both regular and high-profile, and the withholding of agents’ N2.75bn initial deposits to the commission.
Further accusations detail the withholding of N1bn belonging to 200 agents during the 2023 hajj operations, alongside the alleged misappropriation of a N1bn service charge collected from each pilgrim, totalling over N2bn, without corresponding service delivery. These issues have sparked a call for a probe into NAHCON’s operations to ensure efficiency and transparency.
Stakeholders have intensified their demands for the unbundling of NAHCON, arguing that it should function purely as a regulatory body rather than an operator. This growing discontent led to the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) summoning NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi for questioning last week.
Sources revealed that the EFCC is investigating Arabi over the alleged mismanagement of the 2024 Hajj exercise fund. An insider at the EFCC, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Arabi was interrogated regarding the allocation of the N90bn subsidy meant for the exercise.
Expressing his frustration, AHOUN National President Abdullateef Ekundayo, in a conversation with our correspondent, detailed how NAHCON’s actions are damaging agents’ reputations and businesses. He urged the Federal Government to intervene and implement necessary reforms within the commission.
Ekundayo explained, “NAHCON requires our members to make a refundable deposit of N5m before commencing the year’s hajj operation. Last year, they increased this to N25m per operator, despite our protests. This deposit is supposed to demonstrate financial capacity, but it should ideally be a bank guarantee, not cash. Nevertheless, our members complied and deposited N25m each.”
Ekundayo added that all funds needed for operations must be channelled through NAHCON, as per Saudi government regulations, yet the commission often delays transferring these funds to Saudi accounts. “They prioritise conventional pilgrims over international ones, causing delays. Now that hajj is over, they should refund our N25m deposits, but we have received nothing,” he said.
Efforts to secure refunds have been met with bureaucratic hurdles. “They asked us to write letters and attend a verification exercise in person in Abuja. Despite our compliance, our money has not been refunded. It should take no more than three weeks, but it’s been over two months,” Ekundayo lamented.
The unfolding saga continues to raise questions about the management and accountability of the National Hajj Commission, with stakeholders and the public eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigations.
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