The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Board over the 2024 Hajj exercise has questioned NAHCON on inconsistencies in subsidies provided to Nigerian pilgrims.
During a hearing at the National Assembly Complex, Committee Chairman Sada Soli expressed concerns over alleged disparities in subsidy allocations, suggesting they were driven by personal interests within the Commission. Soli demanded that NAHCON Chairman Abdulahi Saleh Usman appear in person to address the committee, rather than being represented by Commissioner for Operations, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi. Insisting on transparency, Soli asked Elegushi to contact Usman to appear directly before the committee.
Addressing Elegushi, Soli questioned, “How come you are giving full, half, or no subsidy to different pilgrims when they are all Nigerians?” In response, Elegushi explained that those who did not receive subsidies had registered after the deadline.
Soli, however, emphasized that all Nigerian pilgrims deserved equal support, stating, “We are speaking for the average Nigerian who saves money for years to make this journey, yet faces issues over basic matters. There should be discipline, not favoritism, in managing pilgrims’ investments. Who authorized selective subsidies?”
The committee also pressed NAHCON on issues regarding discrepancies in basic travel allowances, exchange rates for pilgrims, and the preference for foreign airlines over Nigerian carriers. Soli pledged to pursue the investigation “to a logical conclusion without fear or favor.”
Committee member Hon. Mohammed Umar Bio, who initiated the probe, criticized NAHCON’s performance in 2024 despite receiving significant resources, including N90 billion from the federal government. “Despite these funds, NAHCON’s performance was abysmal,” he stated.
NAHCON Chairman Usman later joined the hearing, acknowledging shortcomings within the agency. Soli pointedly told Usman, “Mr. Chairman, I pity you. NAHCON
