TheCable

The Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation, has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to resolve the disagreement over seat allocation to private tour operators for the 2024 hajj.  

In a statement on Monday, Ibrahim Muhammad, national coordinator of the organisation, said the disagreement is causing a delay in hajj registration as the turn out is still low.

NAHCON had earlier suspended seat allocation to private tour operators over allegations against the commission.

Saudi Arabia had initially approved 10 seats for private hajj operators but 30 were later approved for Nigeria.

The development compelled the commission to reduce the figure from 110 seats to 40.

Recently, the commission released the list of 40 qualified private hajj operators which sparked disagreements with some companies alleging “favoritism”.

Muhammad said if the disagreement is not urgently resolved, it may “affect the numbers of 2024 intending pilgrims as well as the operational structure in the hajj industry”.

“While we understand the importance of regulatory oversight and compliance as undertaken by NAHCON, we also believe that it is not right for the commission to have publicly suspended the pre hajj activities and allocation of hajj slots to the 40 tour operators irrespective of allegations made by some tour operators,” the statement reads.

“Because doing so amounts to ‘admitting’ error of judgement in the lists especially given the extremely tight schedules in the 2024 hajj calendar.

“Those who made the allegations could have been isolated and their allocation withheld while allowing others to continue with their 2024 hajj activities.

“Tour operators are allocated 20,000 pilgrims while States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards share 75,000 seats.

“Currently, states are yet to register up to 25,000 pilgrims. Freezing the process of early registering of possible additional 15,000 to 20,000 pilgrims to boost the numbers of 2024 intending pilgrims may not be ideal at this time.

“Private hajj operators have a great role to play due to the low turnout in the registration of pilgrims for 2024 hajj in the states.

“Their clients may not find it difficult to pay the current proposed hajj fare thereby increasing the number of pilgrims if the right marketing strategy is deployed.

“On the other hand, private hajj operators should also appreciate that the number of companies have been increased to 40 from the initial 10 by Saudi Arabia and they therefore, need to unite ranks instead of raising unnecessary dust.

“They could have written to NAHCON as individuals or under AHUON to raise their observations with verifiable proof.

“Private hajj operators cannot be blaming NAHCON for doing their assigned roles of regulation or making unsubstantiated allegations against their colleagues when they fail to adhere to laid down regulations prescribed by the apex hajj regulatory body in Nigeria.”

The organisation urged NAHCON to reach an agreement and resolve the issue in the interest of intending pilgrims.