To The NAHCON Chairman (1)

Dear Professor Abdullahi Usman,

Shaikhana, I have chosen to communicate with you through this medium for several reasons. Not least among them is that the contents of this letter will be read by many stakeholders in the Hajj industry who have congratulated you, in one way or another, on your assumption of office as the head of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). This letter may also prompt them to offer you further advice regarding the significant responsibility Allah has placed on your shoulders. Ultimately, the matters I discuss here will be preserved for posterity as they are published on the pages of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER.

I write to you, Mr. Chairman, as a brother in Faith who believes that one should refrain from venturing into matters of which they are ignorant, for “every act of hearing, seeing, or feeling in the heart will be enquired into on the Day of Reckoning” (Al-Israa:36).

The Importance of Hajj

As you well know, Hajj is not merely an industry; it is a pillar of our Deen. Anyone who is aware of anything that could hinder your mission at the Commission and remains silent has committed a grave disservice—not only to you but to a cornerstone of Islam. The forces against you, of which there are many, would do better to offer constructive counsel wherever necessary, seeking Allah’s Countenance rather than striving toward your downfall.

You are not NAHCON itself, nor is your tenure; rather, you are the one whom Allah has chosen to lead this institution, which oversees the operations of a cardinal principle of our Deen. If someone will not assist you in your success, they should not undermine you. The content of this correspondence, whether sweet or bitter (I apologise in advance), will revolve around this theme.

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Commendations and Expectations

I would like to begin by congratulating you on the reforms you have initiated within the Commission and pray that Allah guards and guides you in their implementation. I also wish to thank you for the SAR 150 refund disbursement to the pilgrims who participated in Hajj 2023, which was allocated to state agencies and private tour operators.

Sir, this is a lengthy letter; however, I will summarise it in several parts, starting with the recent list released by NAHCON of 118 qualified companies for Hajj 2025, of which 10 lead companies were selected. These chosen 10 will form the nucleus around which all companies will operate for the Hajj, as follows:

ABUJA ZONE
1. Alkhautar Travel and Tour Ltd
2. Omosa Travels Limited
3. Portfolio Travels and Tour Limited

KANO ZONE
4. Arafat Air Services Nigeria Limited
5. Dala Air Services Limited
6. Hamsyl Travels and Tours Limited
7. Zango Travels and Tours Limited

LAGOS ZONE
8. Al Hujaaj International Umrah and Haji Services
9. Habdat Xpress Travels
10. Shebra Travels Limited

Concerns Regarding the Selection Process

Mr. Chairman, the Hajj industry is deeply concerned about the aforementioned list. The Commission must have specific criteria upon which the selection of these companies was based. Such criteria should not be solely dependent on the number of pilgrims a company handles; otherwise, the process will be fundamentally flawed. Hajj is about service delivery to the pilgrims, not merely about numbers. After each Hajj operation, NAHCON awards pilgrim agencies for excellence in various aspects of the Hajj exercise. None of these awards has ever been designated for handling a larger number of pilgrims. Similarly, Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities recognise various Hajj service providers, as we will once again witness during next year’s Hajj Expo (the 4th edition of the Hajj Conference & Exhibition in Jeddah); none of the awards has been based on the number of pilgrims served but rather on the quality of service provided in specific areas of Hajj operations.

A lead company, therefore, should be one that consistently maintains excellent Hajj services for pilgrims, regardless of their number, as long as the content of the package sold is fulfilled and promises are kept. NAHCON currently lacks a mechanism to ascertain whether the allocation of Hajj seats to any entity was utilised to serve the pilgrims of that company or sold to a third party engaged in Hajj visa trafficking.

Qualities of a Lead Company

Shaikhana, lead companies should be going concerns managed by individuals of integrity with a reputation for providing unblemished Hajj services to the guests of Allah. They should:
(a) have an impeccable record of service delivery in the Hajj industry, free from financial issues involving pilgrims and other service providers in Saudia;
(b) possess strong leadership qualities, including selflessness;
(c) be team players, good listeners, and approachable when urgent matters arise; and
(d) have relevant and practical experience in Hajj and its reforms, having participated in at least 10 successful Hajj operations. Interestingly, some of us with more than two decades of Hajj experience in the industry did not make the list!

Call for Scrutiny

Sir, I urge you to subject the list of lead companies released by NAHCON to thorough scrutiny, or it will be best described as an apocryphal list aimed at jeopardising the Hajj 2025 operations. Over half of the listed companies have issues with their operational capacity to conduct Hajj exercises. It is a scandal of monumental proportions for NAHCON to enlist a company that has abandoned its pilgrims at the peak of Hajj operations to lead others for the 2025 Hajj. Companies that defraud pilgrims by providing poor and subpar services cannot be entrusted with leadership roles.

An investigation should be conducted into how the Hajj 2025 committee compiled this list of lead companies. There are interests within the Commission that seem intent on your failure, sir. Otherwise, how can one explain that a Lagos-based company was surreptitiously introduced into Abuja and hastily opened an office, only to be listed among the lead companies from the Abuja Zone? The members of the Zone do not recognise this company. Why would NAHCON be interested in creating discord among us in the lead-up to Hajj 2025? Why should companies in the Abuja Zone be compelled to form alliances with an unknown entity? Are there no credible companies in Abuja worthy of inclusion on the list, such that NAHCON feels the need to employ the services of mercenaries?

On the Current State of Affairs

Mr. Chairman, it is evident that the commotioners (I deliberately use the term “commotioners” rather than “Commissioners”) surrounding you are displeased with our commentary regarding the developments at the Commission. They are sparing no effort to undermine us by any means necessary, generating turmoil as they are inclined to do. However, this will not deter us. They have forgotten that NAHCON is a transit camp where board members will come and go, but NAHCON itself will endure. We shall continue to observe and offer solutions to whatever challenges the Commission faces, drawing from our extensive experience in Hajj operations.

Unfortunately for you, sir, you have assumed leadership at a time when NAHCON is grappling with integrity issues that Allah knows you are not responsible for, and only He can deliver you from these challenges. These commotioners are promoting policies that will further complicate your reform efforts in pursuit of their fervent desire to push you out and ascend to the throne themselves!

Reflections on Past Leadership

Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi has been unjustly portrayed in the events leading to his exit. While I acknowledge he had some blame in certain matters, as is natural for any human being, it is crucial to emphasise that the truth will eventually be revealed. My point is that Malam Jalal did not operate in isolation; he led the NAHCON Board. Why was he singled out for retribution while his colleagues continue to remain in positions of influence? I have stated this before, and I will reiterate: unless NAHCON is equipped with a new board, the same individuals who worked alongside Malam Jalal and left him in a vulnerable position will not spare you either.

Call for Action

If the Hajj institution holds any significance to the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—and I genuinely believe it does, as evidenced by what Asiwaju has accomplished with Hajj 2024—their priority should be to constitute a new board that is free from the current commotioners!

In conclusion, I pray for your success in your endeavours at NAHCON. May Allah grant you wisdom and strength as you navigate these challenging waters. Your leadership is crucial not only for the Commission but for the countless pilgrims who rely on the integrity and efficiency of the Hajj process.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.