The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board has expressed concerns over the discrepancies and mismanagement of funds in the conduct of 2024 Hajj pilgrimage exercise.
Committee Chairman Hon. Sada Soli, at a hearing, accused NAHCON of selectively providing full, partial, or no subsidies, claiming it benefited specific interests.
Hon. Soli insisted that all Nigerian pilgrims should receive the same privileges, regardless of their registration time, and criticized NAHCON for prioritizing personal gain over fairness.
The Committee also scrutinized NAHCON’s varying basic travel allowances, exchange rates, and the use of foreign over local airlines for the Hajj, vowing to pursue accountability.
Commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi, had represented the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulahi Saleh Usman, but Soli insisted he must appear in person
He said those that did not enjoy subsidy came after they had closed the registration of pilgrims that would enjoy that subsidy.
(UPSOUND HON. SADA SOLI CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE AND PRINCE OLAREWAJU ELEGUSHI COMMISSIONER FOR OPERATIONS NAHCON)
Hon. Mohammed Umar Bio, who initiated the probe, condemned the agency’s performance despite substantial funding, including N90 billion from the Federal Government.
In his opening address, Soli emphasized the Committee’s mission to improve Hajj operations for all Nigerian pilgrims.
He acknowledged the personal significance of the pilgrimage and expressed commitment to resolving the issues to ensure a smoother experience in the future.
(UPSOUND HON MOHAMMED BIO MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AND HON. SADA SOLI CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE)
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