ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago has called for the review of activities of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Governor stated this in an interview on the sideline of this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The Niger state governor who spoke strongly against the poor welfare of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia said that the funds paid for the exercise by the pilgrims are not commensurate to the services provided by NAHCON.
The governor noted that NAHCON has gone beyond its constitutional mandate as a regulatory body.
“NAHCON doesn’t have the mandate to talk about feeding, accommodation or transportation.
“All these are marketing strategies and we will stop it, or even speak with a loud voice to the National Assembly to remove the bill which created NAHCON in the first instance.
“In my position as governor of Niger State, I won’t allow my pilgrims to be cheated. We will go to the legislators over how our pilgrims are treated poorly despite the huge expenses.
“There is no northern governor who hasn’t spent between three to five billion for pilgrims to be accorded comfort but what did we get?”
“In my State, we lost two (2) in Medina due to their state of health and this is one of the reasons I am talking about NAHCON, because if medical part of the pilgrimage is handled by state, you will do your screening.
“You will see people who are diabetic, people who have underlying illnesses and you will be able to understand how you can transport them; but nobody does that because NAHCON is in charge.
“We lost two (2) due to medical issues and we lost another four (4) due to heat wave, in my state, and in Nigeria, I am sure it can’t be less than hundred (100) in general. This is not a good number and this should stop,” Bago said.
The governor vowed to mobilise governors to send a bill to the National Assembly to amend the Act which created NAHCON.
“If we go back, I’ll encourage governors to sign that letter which will be sent to the lawmakers to amend the NAHCON bill.
“The embassy in Saudi Arabia should do its job while NAHCON should do its job. NAHCON is a commission for pilgrims, it’s duty is supervisory, not taking on the responsibility of scouting for accommodation or feeding arrangements. That is why there is a lot of corruption there.”
He also called for a probe into the funds spent by NAHCON during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
“The president gave N90 billion to NAHCON, had they given states, our pilgrims would have enjoyed far more than what they have been given, we don’t even know where these monies are.
“How much was given to pilgrims, just $400 so how will someone pay $8 million and be given just $400 for upkeep?
“We must investigate this.
“I am a former lawmaker but we must halt these shortcomings from NAHCON, it has done its last by God’s grace.”
