House Committee Queries NAHCON Over Discrepancies in 2024 Hajj Fund Disbursement

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The House of Representatives has queried the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Board over discrepancies in the disbursement of the 2024 Hajj subsidies to pilgrims.
The query followed an investigative hearing by the House Ad-hoc Committee.
Commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi, represented Chairman of the commission, Abdulahi Usman, at the hearing, but the committee insisted Usman must appear in person.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon.  Sada Soli, during the investigative hearing yesterday in Abuja, wondered why some Nigerians enjoyed full subsidy, while some enjoyed half and some didn’t get at all.
Soli stated,  “How come you are giving subsidy, full subsidy, half subsidy and some none, and they are all Nigerians.
“As long as they are Nigerians and pilgrims, they are to enjoy the same privilege. We are speaking for the average Nigerian, who would save money for five years and yet they would go to Saudi and you would mess them up because of simple things to do.”
He warned the commission, “Be disciplined and do the right thing and close your eyes, you must not bring enterprise in what people spend their lives to invest in. You are giving subsidies at will because you have been given the authority.
“Who gave you the subsidy? Did the federal government tell you what to do with it? You are selective because it will favour you at the end of the day.”
Responding, the commissioner said those that did not enjoy subsidy came after they had closed the registration of pilgrims that would enjoy subsidy.
The committee also queried NAHCON over the disparity in basic travel allowances and exchange rates for pilgrims, and for patronising foreign airlines for Hajj at the detriment of local carriers, among other issues.
Soli said the matter would be followed to a logical conclusion.
A member of the House committee, Hon. Mohammed Bio, said despite the huge resources made available for the 2024 Hajj, it was a failure.
Bio stated, “Despite the huge amount of money by Nigerian pilgrims, NAHCON also received support of N90 billion from the federal government. We are surprised by all this inflow that NAHCON has shown an abysmal performance in 2024.”
Usman, who later joined the hearing, admitted the malfeasance within the agency.
Soli told the NAHCON boss, “Mr. Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty.”
“Yes, I agree,” Usman responded.

Earlier in his welcome address, Soli said it was the duty of the committee to ensure that future Hajj operations were a source of pride to Nigeria, and that every pilgrim’s journey was safe, organised, and spiritually fulfilling.