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NAHCON Requires Systemic Reform – Presidency |
Amidst the ongoing crisis at the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Hadeija, have called for comprehensive reforms to tackle issues of financial mismanagement, negligence, and delayed pilgrimage preparations.
The Presidency officials made these remarks during a fact-finding visit to NAHCON headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. This visit was part of their engagement with government agencies under the supervision of the State House.
Addressing the challenges at NAHCON, Gbajabiamila emphasized that the Commission should avoid controversies due to its significant mandate. “It’s a religious commission set up to fulfill spiritual obligations for people of faith,” he stated.
He expressed surprise at the recurring issues within the Commission, noting, “Even when I was Speaker, it was surprising to see problems arise in this Commission.”
Gbajabiamila lamented that many times, “our pilgrims and fellow Nigerians face maltreatment or lack of proper organization from this Commission, and they sometimes do not conduct themselves appropriately.”
He stressed that the Commission must take responsibility for the experiences of Nigerian pilgrims both domestically and in Saudi Arabia.
Regarding the recent controversy that led to the appointment of a new Chairman, Gbajabiamila urged the management to collaborate closely with the Office of the Vice President, which oversees the agency, to identify past mistakes, make corrections, and ensure seamless operations for pilgrims.
“What happened has happened, and we are here to chart a way forward. It is time to reform the Commission’s system to align with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Deputy Chief of Staff Ibrahim Hadeija emphasized the importance of early preparation for Hajj operations. “Hajj is essentially a large logistics operation. From my involvement in the 2024 operation, one key lesson learned is the need for early preparation,” he noted.
He highlighted that Nigeria has the largest quota of pilgrims from Africa, with some countries having quotas smaller than a single Nigerian state. Hadeija also called for greater transparency in informing pilgrims about what they are paying for.
Prince Malam Abdulrazak, NAHCON’s Executive Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, called for an overhaul of the Commission’s accounting system and improved federal character representation within the organization. “The Commission is described as a national entity, but the federal character is not fully represented. The nominal roll is dominated by a particular region,” Abdulrazak said.
The delegation also visited the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), where Gbajabiamila highlighted the potential role of states in providing funding to the Agency through an insurance scheme or other means.
Gbajabiamila stressed the need to shift disaster management in Nigeria from a reactive to a proactive approach. “NEMA’s mandate includes both disaster prevention and mitigation. However, it seems we focus more on mitigation and neglect prevention,” he said.
He suggested exploring creative funding methods, including state contributions through an insurance scheme, to enhance NEMA’s effectiveness in preventing and mitigating disasters.
