(SINL NIGERIA) Worried by unsatisfactory presentation by the National Hajj Commisssion of Nigeria (NAHCON), chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on investigation of NAHCON and FCT Muslim pilgrims welfare board over the 2024 Hajj exercise, Hon. Sada Soli has threatened to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe NAHCON.
Indeed, irked by conflicting figures by the officials of NAHCON, Soli said “Secretariat take note, we will invite the EFCC to look into the 2024 hajj exercise”.
The investigative hearing which started on Tuesday, however stretched to Wednesday, saw presentation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NAHCON, Association of hajj tours operation and FCT Muslim welfare board.
It would be recalled that Soli while addressing the NAHCON boss, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman on Tuesday, told him the agency was dirty.
“Mr Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty,” Soli said.
Querying the commissioner for Operations, NAHCON, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi, Soli said, “How come you are giving subsidy, full subsidy, half subsidy and some none and they are all Nigerians.”
But the Commissioner said those that did not enjoy subsidy came after they had closed the registration of pilgrims that would enjoy that subsidy.
Soli said, “As long as they are Nigerians and pilgrims they are to enjoy the same privilege. We are speaking for the average Nigerian who would save money for five years and yet they would go to Saudi and you would mess them up because of simple things to do.
“Be disciplined and do the right thing and close your eyes, you must not bring enterprise in what people spend their lives to invest in. You are giving subsidies at will because you have been given the authority. Who gave you the subsidy? Did the Federal Government tell you what to do with it? You are selective because it will favour you at the end of the day.”
The Committee also grilled the Commission on the disparity in basic travel allowances and exchange rates for pilgrims as well as patronising foreign airlines for the Hajj at the detriment of local carriers among other issues.
Meanwhile, a member of the Committee, Hon Mohammed Umar Bio, who moved the motion for the probe said despite the huge resources made available for the 2024 Hajj, it was a failure.
“Despite the huge amount of money by Nigerian pilgrims, NAHCON also received support of N90 billion from the Federal Government. We are surprised by all this inflow, NAHCON has shown an abysmal performance in 2024,,” he said.
