2024 Hajj: Stop Blackmailing Us, Operators Tells NAHCON

Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to stop blackmailing its members and tell Nigerians the truth on the incidents at ‘Tent A’ in Muna where Nigerian dignitaries were subjected to harassment and disgrace during the just concluded Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

The association in a statement jointly signed by its national president, Abdullateef Yusuf Ekundayo and general secretary, Muhammad Nasil Chamo described the posture by the NAHCON that all went well during the exercise as misleading and urged the commission to tell Nigerians how many pilgrims participated in the Tent A services and where they got their visas from, as well as access permits to the VIP camps.

“As regards the ‘Tent A’ debacle, under normal practice, our members are responsible for the purchase of the VIP tent on behalf of pilgrims through the Hajj e-track. This year, it was on record that 27 companies purchased Tent A service on behalf of 616 pilgrims only, on the Hajj e-track portal. However, NAHCON through their accomplices at the service provider’s office created additional off-the-record tents outside the e-track system that were purchased and paid for in cash, a day to the beginning of hajj rites. The commission should tell Nigerians how many pilgrims participated in the Tent A services and from where those large numbers of pilgrims got their visas from, access permit to the VIP camps.

“It is therefore, an unfounded allegation to blackmail our members as the culprits on the issue. We dare to ask the commission that collected $100 service charge on each of our pilgrims (total about $1,400,000.00) amounting to over N2 billion and will not liaise with the service provider to ensure that service paid for is delivered fully to our pilgrims. We also challenge NAHCON to name those tour operators they claimed were involved in Tent A racketeering.

“AHOUN will not continue to stand and watch the organisation that is supposed to promote transparency, good ethics and discipline in the management of Hajj in the country conniving to deprive the unsuspecting pilgrims of their right to efficient and stress-free ha every year. We can’t continue to watch our huge and legitimate investments being rubbished and made scapegoats every year by an organisation that by law should support our members to deliver the right services to Nigerian pilgrims,” the statement said.