The Niger State Governor Umaru Bago., has yesterday called for a review of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
He specifically urged an investigation into the N90 billion subsidy provided by the Federal government for Hajj operations.
Governor Bago pledged to lead a committee of governors to engage relevant authorities in pushing for reforms within the commission.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, in Minna, Governor Bago made these remarks during discussions with reporters in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where he evaluated this year’s Hajj operations. He expressed concerns that NAHCON had shifted its focus from regulatory duties to directly managing Hajj activities.
Highlighting the challenges faced by pilgrims, Governor Bago criticised the 2024 Hajj exercise as unsuccessful. He suggested that privatizing Hajj operations could lead to more effective and efficient service delivery.
The statement partly reads: “Let the private sector drive Hajj operations, NAHCON should be a regulator at the centre.
“I am leading a committee of governors to the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), from there we go to the NEC (National Economic Council).
“I will propose this motion and we will send a Bill to the National Assembly where this issue of NAHCON would be reviewed.
“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 states.”
The governor advocated for state governments to independently manage pilgrimages and involve private agents, akin to practices in other countries. He urged an investigation into the N90 billion subsidy provided by the Federal government for Hajj operations.
Expressing dismay, he highlighted that despite the subsidy, states like Niger still incurred significant costs for pilgrimages. He alleged that pilgrims, who paid N8 million each, received only $400 to cover expenses over approximately 40 days.
According to the governor, redirecting the N90 billion subsidy through the states could have yielded greater benefits.