The House of Representatives has indicted the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion subsidy allocated for the 2024 Hajj exercise. This revelation follows an extensive investigation by an adhoc committee chaired by Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in Katsina State. The committee’s findings have exposed significant lapses in financial transparency, operational inefficiencies, and regulatory failures within NAHCON.
In May 2024, the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu approved the subsidy to ease the financial burden on Nigerian pilgrims. However, this decision drew criticism from many Nigerians who argued that such funds should have been directed toward addressing pressing national issues amidst economic challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies. Despite this intervention, complaints about poor accommodation, inadequate Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), and logistical failures dominated the Hajj exercise.
The investigative committee was constituted during a plenary session on July 14, 2024, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Its mandate included probing NAHCON’s operations and those of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Board. The committee received memoranda from key stakeholders such as the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria, highlighting severe challenges in dealings with NAHCON.
The report revealed that pilgrims paid up to N9 million each without a clear breakdown of charges or justification for the high costs. Furthermore, it was discovered that NAHCON transferred the entire subsidy amount into offshore accounts in Saudi Arabia without a tracking mechanism to verify expenditure. Accommodation arrangements were substandard, particularly in Mina and Medina, where overcrowding and poor living conditions were rampant despite high fees paid by pilgrims. The situation worsened due to changes in Saudi Hajj policies that barred tent upgrades on the e-track platform.
Transportation logistics also failed to meet expectations, with delays causing distress among pilgrims traveling between Makkah, Mina, and Jeddah. Elderly pilgrims were left stranded at checkpoints or forced to walk long distances due to poor coordination of buses. Additionally, financial mismanagement within the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board was exposed, including overspending on staff delegations for the Hajj.
The investigation further uncovered hostility between NAHCON and licensed private tour operators, marked by poor communication and discrepancies in fee structures. Tour operators raised concerns about being excluded from key policy decisions, which deepened mistrust and hindered smooth coordination.
In response to these findings, President Tinubu dismissed NAHCON Chairman Jalal Arabi in August 2024 and appointed Abdullahi Usman as his replacement. Prior to this dismissal, Arabi and NAHCON Secretary Abdullahi Kontagora were indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of multi-million-dollar fraud.
The committee recommended several reforms to address these issues. These include ensuring transparency in subsidy allocation, improving accommodation standards for pilgrims, revising Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Agreement with Saudi Arabia to protect local airlines’ interests, and enhancing coordination between NAHCON and state welfare boards.
This development underscores broader concerns about governance and accountability in Nigeria’s public institutions. As lawmakers deliberate on these findings, Nigerians await decisive actions that will restore confidence in future Hajj operations while ensuring prudent use of public funds.
