N90 billion Hajj Subsidy: Niger governor Bago calls for probe of NAHCON Chairman, says operations in Saudi fraudulent

Niger state governor Mohammed Umar Bago has described the 2024 Hajj operations as worst and a biggest scam in centuries, and threatened to lead an aggressive protest against the management of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for defrauding Nigeria Pilgrims for 2024 Hajj.

He described this year Hajj as worst compared to the previous Hajj calling for the upward review of the activities of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).

The Governor who made the call in an interview in Saudi Arabia which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Minna, said this year’s Hajj operation was nothing less than a scam, describing the activities of the management of NAHCON as fraud.

Bago who spoke in Hausa expressed concern over the Alhaji Jalal-led NAHCON management which he said, has turned itself into an operator of Hajj activities instead of being a regulatory body.

The Governor, who recounted the hitches pilgrims encountered, described the 2024 Hajj exercise as a failure.

He suggested that Hajj operation should be private sector driven for effective and efficient service delivery and that he will lead a Committee of state Governors to meet relevant authorities for a review of the activities of NAHCON for smooth Hajj operation.

“Let the private sector drive Hajj operations, NAHCON should be a regulator at the center. If NAHCON must exist, then they should strictly be a regulator. I am leading a committee of Governors to the NGF, from there we go to the NEC, I will propose this motion, and we will send a bill to the National Assembly where this issue of NAHCON would be reviewed”, he stated.

Chairman and CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi

“NAHCON is not helping matters. Our Federal Government is too big to be worried about Hajj operations, these are supposed to be Local Government issues and not even State issues. State Government should be able to organize pilgrimage and get agents from the private sector who will do these things the best way as other countries are doing it,” he further stated.

On the issue of N90 billion subsidy paid by the Federal government for the Hajj operation, with some States including Niger paying about billions of naira, the Governor said there is need for the National Assembly to probe the fund explaining that it is ridiculous that pilgrims were given only $400 to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8 million by each pilgrim.

He said the N90 billion would have made more impact if shared to states, pointing out that the money is enough to run Universal Basic Education budget for four years.

The Governor also opined that Hajj operation should not last beyond 2 weeks

He disclosed that the State recorded 6 deaths of pilgrims, two (2) were due to medical challenges while four (4) were as a result of heat wave.

Effort to reach the Director of Information and one other top management staff was unsuccessful as their lines were switched off.