THE Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation that monitors and reports hajj in Nigeria, has called on the National Assembly to amend the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Act to ensure a cohesive and effective hajj operating system in the country.
The call, it said, was in view of what it called the noticeable gaps in policy and implementation in terms of service delivery in the Hajj industry.
IHR, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, said the call also became necessary because of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj’s adjustment of hajj policy and calendar of events which it described as detailed approved guideline for all hajj-participating countries.
It said: “Nigeria is the fifth largest hajj-participating country and the first in Africa with an allocation of 95,000 slots.
“Nigeria is the only country out of the top 10 hajj-participating countries, which include Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Morocco and Malaysia, that does not operate a centralised system. We operate a three-tier system in Nigeria (federal, state and local governments). All the countries mentioned above have a unified and centrally control hajj administration with coordinating units at zones, so they find it easy to run five to six-year hajj rolling plans.
“Local government pilgrims officers do pilgrims registration under the control of state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards. Thereafter, the boards deposit such funds in their respective accounts before it will be moved to NAHCON operational account on request – all within one hajj calendar year.
“Management of hajj operations is strictly time-limited to start thinking of continuing with these time-consuming bureaucracies.”
“We support advocacy for improved services to our dear pilgrims but the recent calls for the decentralisation of NAHCON and devolving powers to the states would be a very wrong move.”
The organisation added: “For example, the new calendar of activities released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently scheduled 4th September for the kickoff of arrangements for the 2025 hajj.
“By virtue of diplomatic protocol, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj only relates with national hajj missions, not regional bodies. Decentralisation as being touted, will allow 36 states’ pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to send 36 different delegations to Saudi Arabia (the first in the history of hajj operation) to liaise with Saudi Arabia (host country) on hajj plans. Thirty-six states will also sign different hajj memorandums of understanding with one country.
“On service delivery, NAHCON controls airlines and accommodation in Madina. In the last few years, Nigerian pilgrims have been housed in a four-star hotels within the vicinity or five minutes’ walk close to the Prophet’s Mosque.
“On the other hand, states are responsible for choosing their accommodation in Makkah. This year, for example, our team currently in Saudi Arabia observes that Niger State pilgrims’ accommodation is located in an isolated area, far away from the Holy Mosque. This invariably denies quite a number of the pilgrims the opportunity to observe their obligatory prayers at the Haram.
“Also, registration of pilgrims starts from the local governments after which the funds are transferred to state pilgrims boards before being transferred to NAHCON.
“There are allegations that most of the delays experienced every single year that affect the smooth operations of the hajj, including this year, is as a result of the failure of some state boards to remit their collected fares to NAHCON in time because governors have used the monies for other purposes and are being awaited to make refunds.
“We, therefore, call on the National Assembly to make it possible for pilgrims to pay their deposits directly to NAHCON (where the funds will end up anyway) so that the commission can in turn meet its obligations in time and avoid a situation where the entire operation will be put in jeopardy.
“This, we believe, is also the best way to truly hold the commission to account in case of any service failure.”
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