By Salisu Sani-Idris
Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN) has called on the Federal Government to set up an inter-ministerial panel to review 2024 Hajj operations.
Its National President, Alhaji Abdulateef Ekundayo Yusuf, made the call on Thursday at a news conference in Makkah, on the outcome of the just concluded 2024 Hajj.
He said “we call on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, set up an inter-ministerial and credible panel to review this year’s Hajj, with the aim of restoring sanity into future operations.”
Ekundayo, who emphasised the need for government to investigate the laws and acts that regulate Hajj affairs in the country, added that “we implore those saddled with such responsibilities to
act now to safeguard Nigerian pilgrims.”
He decried poor services at tent A, saying” like the previous years, tent A was characterized by lack of transparency, racketeering, profiteering and poor organisation.
“Some of us paid double camp fees for camp at zone five and zone one on a single pilgrim.
“Apart from the exorbitant amounts for basic services, many pilgrims couldn’t have access to the services.
“This is the peak of any contractual breach, and we demand immediate reconciliation and payment of refund to affected members by the management of Ithra Alkhair (service provider).
“The Mutawwif (Ithra Alkhair) should immediately reconcile with our members to refund money paid for services not rendered both in Muna and Arafat for this year because of their actions and inactions.”
He urged the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to stop all charges on
members of the association, including the dollar equivalent service fees based on the new policy of government withdrawal of subsidy on Hajj.
He said “while we agree that NAHCON has the right to charge licencing fees, we believe the Hajj licence is the most expensive of any licencing regime in Nigeria.
“How can anyone justify a fee of N1 million for a licence that has only two months validity.
“What happened to the component of the international pilgrims out of the N90 billion approved Hajj subsidy. Aren’t they Nigerians?.
“Our members deserve the right for official visa during Hajj because the Ministry of Hajj provides such as a percentage of the total allocation to Nigeria.
“Some of the problems our pilgrims face during Hajj can be easily addressed by us if we can move freely.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
