The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board have some questions to answer before the House Committee over misconducts in 2024 Hajj
The House of Representatives on Thursday set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) over the misconduct in the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Mohammed Bio (APC Kwara), on the floor of the House during plenary.
Following the adoption of the motion, the House condemned the performance of NAHCON and the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in the 2024 Hajj exercise and set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the activities of NAHCON and the board, their agents and sub-agents involved in the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Subsequently, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas (APC Kaduna), announced the names of the members of the ad-hoc committee to be chaired by Rep. Sada Soli (APC Katsina).
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The motion titled, “Urgent need to investigate the National Hajj Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their agents, and sub-agents over shoddy arrangement and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj exercise,” came on the floor of the House as a matter of urgent public importance.
Bio described the Hajj exercise as an important obligation in the life of every Muslim and one of the five pillars of Islam. He lamented that about 50,865 Muslim pilgrims across the states in Nigeria were under the care of NAHCON in 2024, noting that some of them were not taken care of in terms of welfare, organisation, accommodation, guidance, and monitoring as expected.
He added that despite “the huge amount paid by the pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj exercise, NAHCON’s 2024 budget allocation, intervention from the Federal Government to the tune of N90bn and support from Government of Saudi Arabia, NAHCON and FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board performed below performance in the 2024 Hajj Exercise especially in Makkah and Mina is unexpected.”
The lawmaker warned that “If this poor performance of NAHCON is not investigated with a view to improve future performance, further Hajj exercise for Nigerian citizens may be more complicated and put the entire country in a bad light in the committee of nations.”
Adding to the debate, Rep Isa Ali JC. (APC Gombe), said: “NAHCON was established with a clear mandate to supervise, coordinate, provide transport, medication before, during and after Hajj. This year’s Hajj Nigerians paid ₦8 Million, some VIP paid ₦20 million, I believe this is a serious situation that requires public hearing because we have received complaint from constituents about how they were abandoned”
However, the House gave the committee two weeks to report back for further legislative action.
