Hajj 2024: Assocation Of Hajj Operators Roots For NAHCON Probe Over Poor Hajj Performance

Ripples generated by poor conduct of 2024 Hajj, in which Nigerian’ Pilgrims were subjected to untold hardship in Saudi Arabia are yet to fizzle out.

The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN),
umbrella trade association of all the tour operators involved in the organization of Hajj and Umrah , called on the federal government to probe National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Hajj regulator on handling of 2024 Hajj conduct.

A Press statement issued on Thursday ,AHOUN National President Abdulmojeed Ekundayo, decried woes metted on Nigerian Pilgrims who performed 2024 Hajj, recalling hardship Nigera’s Pilgrims were subjected to , in Hajj 2024 as unprecedented in the annals of Hajj performance.

AHOUN President listed accomodation challenge, poor feeding, limited convenience outlets, poorly funded transportation system and inadequate accomodations for Nigerian Pilgrims, whom, he said paid millions of Nigeria to perform the spiritual exercise, in addition to N90 billion federal government released as subsidy for 2024 Hajj.

“We demand to know those that are responsible for the appointment of the
caterers this year. We can no longer accept this perennial abuse of our pilgrims to accept anything as food despite paying handsomely for it.
Unlike the zone 5 mixed experience, the worst ever experience in this year’s Hajj was at the tent A. Many pilgrims that paid heavily for this service could
not have access to the camp both pre-Arafat and post Arafat”
” In fact, some had to resort to tent D service to be able to perform the Hajj. The pilgrims that were able to access the service experience their worst nightmare, overcrowding, poor sanitary condition and bullying from security personnel which forced some to abandon the camp and return to Makkah to complete their Hajj rites. The tent A service this year like the previous years was characterized by lack of transparency, racketeering, profiteering and poor organization”, AHOUN president noted.

As a way of restitution, the association asks for refund with immediate effect, all its outstanding claims for unutilized visas for the 2022 Hajj and the failed service provision for last year’s Hajj (2023). “We are determined not to let any of our members lost a dime for services paid and not enjoyed”.

“With the new policy of government withdrawal of subsidy on Hajj
matters, we wish to call on NAHCON to stop all charges on our members including the dollar equivalent we pay as service fees.

While we agreed that NAHCON has the right to charge licensing fees,
we believe the Hajj license is the most expensive of any licensing
regime in Nigeria. How can anyone justify a fee of N1m for a license
that has only 2-month validity”, it queried? Reports of over 300 Nigerian pilgrims stranded for nearly 24 hours at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah over reported failure of Aero Contractors airline to evacuate them surfaced days ago

According to reports, pilgrims who participated in the 2024 Hajj travelled to the holy land under the tour operators qouta.