N90bn Hajj Subsidy: Niger Gov Knocks NAHCON, Calls For Probe

• N90bn Enough For UBE Budget For Four Years

The National Assembly has been urged to probe the N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State Bago made the call on Sunday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim.

Ibrahim said Bago called for a review of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria law during an interview he granted in Saudi Arabia.

Bago described the performance of the National Hajj Commission NAHCON as a failure.

Osun Defender reports that the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state House of Assembly and other cabinet members went to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.

He noted that the money was enough to run the Universal Basic Education budget for four years.

READ: Country Sacks Religious Affairs Minister After 49 Pilgrims Died In Hajj

He said, “The N90bn subsidy paid by the Federal government for the Hajj operation, with some states, including Niger, paying about billions of naira; there is need for the National Assembly to probe the N90bn the Federal Government released for the 2024 Hajj. It is ridiculous that pilgrims were given only $400 to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8m by each pilgrim.

“The N90bn would have made more impact if shared with states. The money is enough to run the Universal Basic Education budget for four years.”

The governor disclosed that Niger State lost six pilgrims.

While two died due to medical challenges, four died as a result of the heatwave which killed over 1,000 pilgrims.

The statement quoted Bago as saying, “Let the private sector drive Hajj operations; NAHCON should be a regulator at the centre. If NAHCON must exist, then it should strictly be a regulator. I am leading a committee of Governors to the NGF, from there we go to the NEC, I will propose this motion, and we will send a bill to the National Assembly where this issue of NAHCON would be reviewed.

“NAHCON is not helping matters. Our Federal Government is too big to be worried about Hajj operations; these are supposed to be local government issues and not even state issues. The state government should be able to organise pilgrimage and get agents from the private sector who will do these things the best way as other countries are doing it.”