Three prominent licensed tour operators in Nigeria have announced their withdrawal from participating in the 2025 Hajj exercise, citing systemic injustices and mismanagement within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The CEOs of Travel Express Ltd, Usman A. Ambursa; An-Noor Air Services and Tours Ltd, Huruna Isma’il and Positive Trends Travel and Tours Ltd, Ikrimah Muhammad, in a joint statement released yesterday in Abuja, voiced their frustrations, stressing that their withdrawal was not merely a business decision but a protest against a system they believed had perpetuated poor services and misrepresentation of costs to pilgrims.
According to them, NAHCON has consistently failed to address the critical needs of pilgrims while prioritising its own interests. The CEOs pointed out that many of the operational challenges faced by pilgrims such as inadequate accommodation and substandard services could be traced back to NAHCON’s opaque decision-making processes.
They argued that the commission’s refusal to allow tour operators to negotiate service contracts had resulted in inflated costs and diminished service quality.
“NAHCON does not have a single pilgrim,” stated Ikramah Muhammad, who also double as deputy president of the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). “We know the demands, needs, and tastes of our pilgrims. Yet, they continue to decide the fates of our clients without any input from us.”
The operators are calling for a paradigm shift in the management of Hajj services in Nigeria, insisting on a more transparent and open process that empowers tour operators to negotiate directly with service providers, thereby ensuring better quality and value for pilgrims. They believe that this approach would not only enhance the pilgrims’ experience but also restore trust in the Hajj process.
The tour operators pledged to continue their advocacy for change, promising to address the financial aspects of Hajj operations in upcoming statements and called on the federal government to intervene and ensure that the rights and needs of Nigerian pilgrims are prioritized in the Hajj process. “We are business men and women of integrity, and we believe that proper governance and transparency are essential for the success of Hajj operations,” they said.
