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Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has accused the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) of failing to meet expectations despite exorbitant charges of over N8 million for a Hajj seat.
He deplored the hardship faced by Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia while stressing the need to decentralise Hajj operations.
According to the governor, the decentralisation would allow state governments to take full control of Hajj affairs and ensure adequate welfare of their respective pilgrims who paid for Hajj fares through the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards.
A statement issued by the Chairman of the state Hajj Pilgrimage Publicity Committee, Alhaji Yayanuwa Zainabari, which was made available to our reporter, said the governor expressed his concerns while speaking with Bauchi pilgrims in Mina, Mecca.
The governor noted that the unfavourable policies of NAHCON and other stakeholders had caused significant hardship for pilgrims, including providing less than $500 as Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) despite the high cost of over N8 million per hajj seat.
The governor indicated that state governors would collaborate to end NAHCON’s control over Hajj affairs if the identified issues were not addressed.
He also announced a donation of 300 Saudi Riyal to each of the 2,685 Bauchi pilgrims as a Sallah gift.
However, the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, while addressing the Bauchi contingents at Mina in Saudi Arabia, said most of the challenges faced by the pilgrims were beyond the Commission’s control.
Arabi, however, commended the Nigerian pilgrims for their patience and understanding towards achieving success in the Hajj exercise.
