Abdulwahab Isa 
With the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilling top management officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to account for utilization of N90 billion hajj subsidy provided by the Federal Government for the 2024 hajj, Assocation of Hajj and Unmra Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has said that no international Pilgrims received a dime out of N90 billion subsidy.
The Association while commending the ongoing probe of the agency by the anti-graft detectives, the AHUON challenged NAHCON to name Hajj operators that received a dime out of the N90 billion approved by the Federal Government as subsidy for 2024 Hajj exercise.
Stating it’s position in a statement jointly signed on Saturday by its National President and General Secretary, Mallam Abdullateef Yusuf Ekundayo and Muhammad Nasir Chamo respectively, the body of all Hajj operators in Nigeria blame management of NAHCON for the failure recorded by 2024 Hajj.
Part of AHUON Press statement read: ” When an umpire decides to become an active player in any game, conflict of interest will set in and everything to do with fairness, rectitude and transparency comes to question.
“Firstly, 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 it to Nigerians Pilgrims despite our demands.
“Are the International Pilgrims not Nigerians? We’re determined to continue to ask for the share of these funds from the federal government for our Nigerian (Hujjaj) Pilgrims”, it said.
The Assocation further pointed to an unpleasant development at Muna where Nigerian Pilgrims were subjected to dehumanizing condition.
“Another misleading information that directly affected our members was the unfortunate and avoidable incidence at the Tent ‘A’ (VIP Tent) Muna, where Nigerian dignitaries were subjected to myriads of harassments and disgrace.
“The Commission tried to exonerate itself from wrongdoing on the incidence and our members were painted as the culprits as they always wanted Nigerians to view Tour Operators as those responsible for their failures”.
“The NAHCON narrative was self-serving propaganda. The Commission single handedly selected and appointed all the service providers for the 2024 Hajj, which include Pilgrim’s accommodation providers, feeding, tents and transportation services among others.
“None of our members or Association participated in the negotiation or delivery of these important services. This is despite the fact that we had an alternative service provider, which was supported by 85% of our members, but NAHCON insisted on 100% membership support before it can consent to any change of service provider, this is an impossible demand in any human Association of diverse background”, said AHOUN.
The just concluded 2024 Hajj is still steeped in controversy. The EFFC on Tuesday interrogated the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, over alleged mismanagement of the 2024 Hajj exercise funds, among others.
“Arabi’s questioning was prompted by petitions filed against him which bordered on the conduct of 2024 Hajj with regards to utilization of N90 billion subsidy provided to ease the financial burden of Nigerian Pilgrims.
