Hajj 2024: Private operators faults NAHCON claims

• •Says no international pilgrims benefitted from N90bn FG largesse

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has denied the claim by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that the International Pilgrims benefited from the N90 billion intervention by the federal government during this year’s pilgrimage to mecca.
Reaching to the Commission’s World Press Conference, the Association in a statement, signed by its National President, Abdullateef Yusuf Ekundayo and National Secretary, Muhammad Nasil Chamo, described as misleading the posture by the commission that all went well during the Hajj exercise.
It said it would have elected to keep quite after its attention was drawn to the press conference, but chose to set the record straight for the benefit of unsuspecting Nigerians.
It said: “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 to Nigerians Pilgrims despite our demands.”
It also disclaimed that Commission’s account of how it handled the allocation of Tents during the exercise.
“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 a 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.”
Commenting on Tent ‘A’ category, the Association also said, “As regard 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-tract system that were purchased and paid for in cash, a day to the beginning of Hajj 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 culprit on this issue.
“We dare to ask the Commission that collects $100 service charge on each of our pilgrim (total about $1,400,000.00) amounting to over N2 Billion and will not laisse 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.”
It warned that “ AHOUN will not continue to stand and watch the organization 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 Hajj every year.
We can’t continue to watch our huge and legitimate investments being rubbished and made scapegoats every year by an organization that by law should support our members to deliver the right services to Nigerian Pilgrims.”
It called on 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.”