Sustain the gains of 2026 Hajj

It must have been a big relief to many that this year’s Hajj exercise to Saudi Arabia ended on a positive note. On June 23, the National Hajj Commission announced that it had concluded the transportation of more than 40,000 pilgrims who performed this year’s Hajj in the Holy Land.

Until February, there was uncertainty over whether the commission would even be able to organise the airlift of the country’s pilgrims following the total chaos that engulfed its operations. At the centre of the crisis was the spate of accusations and counter-accusations between the then chairman of the board and other board members.

Similarly, there was disagreement between the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and tour operators. This was in addition to the fact that many arrangements for a successful exercise were lagging behind because of the disputes.

It was, therefore, a big relief that the exercise was rescued following the appointment of Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as chairman of the commission, bringing an end to the infighting on the board and strengthening the administrative machinery of the commission.

Daily Trust congratulates the commission on the successful conduct of the exercise. Indeed, the story of the commission over the last three years has been one of disappointment. During that period, the commission was associated with allegations of corruption, abuse of due process and neglect of Nigerian pilgrims. It is unfortunate that the last two heads of the commission left office under unpleasant circumstances, leaving behind a trail of allegations of corruption.

We believe that, now that things appear to be getting back on track, it is time to ensure that greater effort is made to correct all anomalies, weed out corrupt officials and ensure that timelines are set and strictly adhered to.

Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, which every Muslim aspires to fulfil. Millions of Muslims deny themselves many comforts in order to save enough to fulfil this obligation. Therefore, it is only fair that all necessary arrangements are made to ensure they perform the rites with as little hassle as possible.

We believe that the commission has adequate powers under the Act establishing it to achieve this. The problem has been that the commission has often abandoned its mandate as a regulator and instead assumed the role of an organiser, thereby becoming entangled in conflicts of interest.

According to the Act, the commission is mandated, among other things, to license, regulate, supervise and perform oversight functions over organisations, associations (corporate or non-corporate) and similar bodies engaged in organising and coordinating the movement of persons from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah, as well as providing accommodation, transportation and other services related to the performance of Hajj and Umrah for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

It is also mandated to liaise and coordinate with the appropriate government authorities and organs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the rules and regulations governing entry into and stay in Saudi Arabia for the purposes of Hajj and Umrah, including immigration, passport and related consular services. It is equally required to coordinate the provision of health, financial, security, customs, immigration and related services to persons proceeding to, or returning from, Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah, and to ensure the establishment and management of pilgrims’ camps, related facilities, equipment and other necessary materials.

We are also delighted that the commission has commenced preparations for next year’s exercise. Indeed, some state pilgrims’ welfare agencies have already started calling on prospective pilgrims to begin depositing certain sums to secure their slots. This is the way to go. For many years, Nigeria was caught napping in its preparations for the exercise. Often, special concessions had to be granted before our pilgrims could meet certain requirements. This must stop in the interest of the country and the pilgrims.

Daily Trust hopes that NAHCON will insist that everyone involved in the operation adheres strictly to the timelines set by the Saudi authorities. It is also time to strengthen the Hajj Savings Scheme to enable intending pilgrims to plan well ahead. This will also enable state pilgrims’ welfare agencies to keep track of those likely to meet the conditions for the following Hajj.

The ultimate goal should be to ensure that Nigerian pilgrims never suffer in the course of an exercise they have toiled to pay for and which represents the lifelong aspiration of every Muslim. The key to achieving this is for NAHCON to insist on getting things right from the very beginning.

UPDATE NEWS:

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder,

click here to find out how it works.