Reps say NAHCON dirty over 2024 Hajj operations
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Investigation of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, Sada Soli, has indicted the commission over the operation of last year’s hajj.
Solid spoke during a hearing on the matter at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, insisting that NAHCON did somethings for personal gains.
The House committee is investigating the commission along with the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board.
Soli said Commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi, who represented the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulahi Saleh Usman, would not be entertained, insisting the chairman must appear in person.
Soli said the Commissioner must informed the Chairman on the phone while the hearing was ongoing to appear by himself.
According to him,. “How come you are giving subsidy, full subsidy, half subsidy and some none and they are all Nigerians.”
The Commissioner said those that did not enjoy subsidy came after they had closed the registration of pilgrims that would enjoy that subsidy.
Solid said, “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.
“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.”
The Committee is worried over the disparity in basic travel allowances and exchange rates for pilgrims as well as patronising foreign airlines for the Hajj at the detriment of local carriers among other issues.
However, Hon Mohammed Umar Bio, who moved the motion for the probe, said despite the huge resources made available for the 2024 Hajj, it was a failure.
“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,,” he said.
Chairman of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Usman, who later joined the hearing admitted to the malfeasance within the agency.
Soli, while addressing the NAHCON boss, told him the agency was dirty.
“Mr Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty,” Soli said.
“Yes, I agree, ” the NAHCON responded.
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