Abuja, Nigeria — A brewing crisis at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has intensified as travel agents, under the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), have accused the commission of withholding more than N2.8 billion belonging to them. The funds, reportedly seized by the commission, have sparked concerns among the operators as they demand the resolution of financial discrepancies from the 2024 Hajj operations before the commencement of preparations for the 2025 pilgrimage.
In a letter dated August 24, 2024, addressed to the newly appointed NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, AHUON expressed frustration over the commission’s call for applications from licensed agents for the 2025 Hajj slots without first addressing the financial issues from the previous year. The letter, signed by AHUON’s National President, highlights the unresolved financial obligations owed to 114 travel agents, each owed N25 million, totaling about N2.8 billion in deposits paid to demonstrate financial capacity for the 2024 Hajj operations.
The travel agents also allege that NAHCON has withheld an additional N1 billion from 200 agents as part of their initial deposits during the 2023 Hajj operations. The agents further accused the commission of failing to account for the N1 billion service charge collected from pilgrims, which contributed to the removal of the former NAHCON Chairman, Jalal Arabi, following a probe by anti-corruption agents.
During a recent visit by a presidential panel investigating financial misappropriation within the commission, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, called for a comprehensive overhaul of NAHCON to restore transparency and accountability. This visit has raised expectations that the new leadership under Usman will rectify the wrongs of the past administration.
In their letter, AHUON commended the commission’s early start to the 2025 Hajj preparations but insisted that all pending financial issues from the 2024 operations be resolved first. The association also requested the payment of N20 million, representing their share of the 2024 development fee paid by pilgrims.
A source within NAHCON, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that the seized funds might have been misappropriated by top officials within the commission. “The funds are either stacked somewhere for the purpose of increments in the CBN or may have been shared by the top echelons of the commission,” the source claimed, urging the travel agents to remain steadfast in their demands for their money.
Despite repeated attempts to reach NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Usara, for comments, all efforts proved unsuccessful as phone calls went unanswered and text messages were not returned.
As tensions mount, all eyes are on Chairman Abdullahi Usman and whether he can navigate this financial controversy to restore trust and stability within the National Hajj Commission.
