FLASH POINT

.... As The Commission Appreciates Concern And Understanding By Stakeholders

By Fatima Dayyab

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) appreciates the high level of understanding and concern that have been demonstrated by various stakeholders during the 2024 Hajj operation.
Addressing a press conference, the National Chairman Nigeria Hajj Commission ( NAHCON) Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi, said throughout the entire preparatory process, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) ensured that collaboration with key stakeholders was paramount. Executive Chairmen and Secretaries (ES) of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SPWBs) formed part of our decision-making caucus.

According to him they  played an integral role in the smooth execution of this year’s pilgrimage. The Commission did not take any major decision without consultation with SPWBs and indeed the Tour Operators.

BELLOW ARE THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRESA CONFERENCE:


Speech by NAHCON Chairman/CEO at the 2024 Post Hajj Press Briefing
Held on 29th July 2024 at Blue Spring Hotel, Shehu Shagari Way,
Opposite Ministry ofMinistry of Justice, Abuja.

Thank you for joining us today for this briefing on the recently concluded 2024 Hajj. As you are aware, organizing such a monumental event involves overcoming numerous challenges,and I am pleased to provide you with an overview of the hurdles we faced, challenges we overcame and the modest successes recorded starting with the preparation stage.

Throughout the entire preparatory process, The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) ensured that collaboration with key stakeholders was paramount. Executive Chairmen and Secretaries (ES) of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SPWBs) formed part of our decision-making caucus.

They also played an integral role in the smooth execution of this year’s pilgrimage. The Commission did not take any major decision without consultation with SPWBs and indeed the Tour Operators.

After successful inspection and negotiation of cost-of-service delivery for the intending pilgrims to 2024 Hajj, the Hajj fare was totaled to cost $5,692.25; a reduction from 2023 Hajj fare of $6,401.31 at the exchange rate of N456.00.

The first and significant challenge we encountered during the early stage was the slow remittance of Hajj fares by pilgrims. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON’s plan was to close registration early to provide it ample time to conclude arrangements. This plan could not materialize stemming from multiple requests from various State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SPWBs), Ulamas, State Governors and other stakeholders for various extensions of deadlines to allow more intending pilgrims to register for the Hajj. The Commission succumbed in national interest, leading to delays that impacted our planning and calculation of the final Hajj fare.

Thankfully,cooperation and resilience of all involved parties ensured that our planning was not adversely affected as each stakeholder rose to the challenge. The same could not be said for the cost of Hajj fare, however.
Recall that by the final deadline of 12th February 2024, the unforeseen spike in foreign exchange rates had totally complicated matters, necessitating fresh adjustment of the year’s Hajj fare from the initially announced N4.9m. The financial projection after the foreign exchange liberalization was that each pilgrim would have to top up about 3.6 million Naira in addition to the initial payment.
The situation impelled urgent intervention. Recognizing the gravity of the situation NAHCON promptly engaged with the Federal Government to mitigate the effects of the high cost of the foreign currency with an appeal for government to approve a concessionary rate of N850 as exchange rate for the Dollar component of the Hajj fare. That appeal was further amplified by other reputable stakeholders in the project. We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift approval of N90 billion Naira instead.
How to spread this N90 billion equitably, to such a degree that registered pilgrims would not have to pay additionally to the N4.9m, was tough. At first, the 90 billion Naira would only cater conveniently for about 18,000 intending pilgrims out of the about 50,000 duly registered persons as at 22nd March 2024.
new registrants were asked to pay N8, 454,464.74 being exempted from the Federal Government’s intervention. It is on record that eligible officials and stakeholders from all tiers of government enjoyed the subsidy from the N90 billion.
See attached list for table of the N90 billion distribution record.
Private Tour Operators (PTO):
leadership to justify their selection in front of their members. The house remained divided during and even after the meeting. They were encouraged to reach a consensus on their decision, with NAHCON emphasizing that continued discord could prove disruptive to the 2024 Hajj preparations, which might compel us to intervene with a decision.
Ladies and gentlemen, with authority conferred on the Commission to take relevant decisions on matters of interest to Hajj management, we instructed the PTO’s, to toe the line of NAHCON, and work with the Ithra al Khair Service Providers (the inherited Service Providers) since their impasse could not be resolved. This decision was made after the leadership of the association failed to reach a consensus with its members.
Consequently, NAHCON requested AHUON members to remit their Hajj fares and other charges into NAHCON’s CBN account to enable the Commission credit the PTO respective IBAN account for visa processing. The third in the series of deadlines elapsed by 9th February 2024 without any member paying even N1.00 (one Naira) into the Commission’s CBN account. Instead,to re-affirm that Saudi Arabia will not honor any payment or arrangements that were not made through the Commission as the only recognized body representing Nigeria; and we did convey same message to all concerned.
transmitting their money into their IBAN account. At a point, precisely on 8th June, I directed the Commission’s Saudi Liaison Officer to travel to Nigeria to collect PTOs cheques and return the next day to Saudi Arabia to facilitate direct payment into their Bank Accounts in the Kingdom on the 9th June. This was done to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that could have delayed the approval of some PTOs payments potentially affecting visa processing for their pilgrims.
The Commission did this just to ensure that the PTOs fulfill their commitments to their clients to travel for the Hajj. As we approached the critical stage of Arafat, some payments from PTOs made online had not yet been accredited but they had the grace of our funds being utilized on their behalf. I assure you dear listeners that some of these remittances into our account for onward transfer into the PTOs IBAN account got credited only on the day of Arafat. Ultimately, the affected pilgrims would not have performed Hajj but for the Commission’s proactiveness.
PTO’s and 90 billion Intervention:
AHUON sent a request for its members to also benefit from the government’s intervention since they were also affected by the escalating exchange rate. Firstly, Federal Government had requested NAHCON to give pilgrims under government quota priority in the N90 billion intervention because pilgrims under this category are the ones that had been depositing their Hajj fare for long for the pilgrimage. Secondly, the Commission reasoned with the PTOs that they are businessmen and women in the pilgrimage sector whose clients are mostly from the affluent in the society. Hence, the Commission as advised stood its ground that the 90 billion Naira intervention approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,was an initiative that primarily targeted pilgrims under the government quota whose financial statuses are not as strong. AHUON protested.
Pilgrims’ Basic Travel Allowance (BTA):
The Commission, in agreement with state pilgrims’ representatives approved a BTA of $500 per pilgrim: as a measure of reducing the cost of Hajj fare. It was rational for any pilgrim in need of more Dollars to source same through the open market since the rates were the same.
As at 24th April 2024 when NAHCON remitted the pilgrims’ BTA into their respective SPMBs accounts, the Dollar exchange rate was N1,252 to a Dollar. Based on this rate, N626,000 was paid for the value of $500 (Five hundred Dollars). However, the banks later issued BTA to pilgrims at a rate higher than N626 depending on the cost of foreign exchange at the time the respective states requested for the BTAs, causing a shortfall to the original value. The Commission expected that the Banks were supposed to honor the exchange rate obtainable on 24th April, the day the BTA was deposited and to pay the pilgrims based on that rate. Going forward we shall engage the CBN on that scenario.
TENT A:
does not collect payment from individuals. Thus in 2024 as well, majority of the VIPs later paid for an upgrade from Tent “D” to Tent “A” via private Hajj operators and not NAHCON.
Realizing that the system had changed and there was no more upgrade allowed, the Commission tried to intervene on behalf of some officials and states. Those states that leveraged the goodwill of NAHCON in the Ministry, secured the few tents upgrade in Mina and Arafat for their principals. For instance, of ONLY 17 tent “A” State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and some tour operators. This board under my leadership remains committed to learning from these experiences and improving our processes to better serve the pilgrims in future endeavors.

NAHCON will continue to assess and improve our processes to better serve the pilgrims and uphold the sanctity and significance of Hajj.
Be rest assured that NAHCON remains committed to transparency and accountability in all aspects of our operations. We continuously seek to improve our processes to ensure equitable access to facilities and services for all pilgrims, thereby upholding the sanctity and inclusivity of the Hajj experience.
I welcome any further inquiries you may have on this or other matters related to the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

Thank you once again for your attention.
Jalal Ahmad Arabi OON fwc
NAHCON Chairman/CEO,