By Garba Abdullahi Bagwai, Kano
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says state governments may convert their pilgrims welfare agencies into independent companies or establish new tour companies to handle Hajj operations under a proposed policy shift by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The Commission said the planned migration of Nigeria’s Hajj operations to a tour operator model would not diminish its powers to oversee and regulate Hajj activities in the country.
NAHCON Commissioner for Policy, Research, Strategy, Information and Library Science (PRISLS), Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, disclosed this to news men in Kano on Sunday.
He said the proposed Saudi policy would strengthen rather than weaken NAHCON’s mandate, stressing that Saudi authorities would continue to liaise with the Commission on Hajj operations and other administrative matters to ensure smooth pilgrimage operations.
“Saudi authorities have identified only NAHCON when it comes to Hajj matters. We have no doubt that the National Hajj Commission is here to stay.
“State governments, however, have the option to restructure their Hajj agencies by converting them into independent companies to handle Hajj and tour activities or by establishing new tour companies,” he said.
According to him, NAHCON is already largely self-sustaining, with more than half of its activities funded through revenue generated from taxes accruing from Hajj operations.
Yagawal described the proposed transfer of Hajj operations to private tour operators as a welcome development, saying it was aimed at aligning Nigeria’s Hajj system with Saudi Arabia’s policy of providing uniform and improved services to pilgrims from around the world.
He said Saudi Arabia wanted all pilgrims to receive equal treatment, adding that countries were expected to align their Hajj operations with the proposed system before 2030.
Read Also: State Agencies to Select Hajj Service Providers, Says NAHCON
The commissioner said the reform would also give Saudi authorities greater legal powers to deal with pilgrims who violated the country’s laws and regulations while on pilgrimage.
“Under the diplomatic system, it may be difficult for the Saudi government to take legal action against pilgrims who come through a national Hajj commission. But it has the ultimate power to take strict measures against any company whose pilgrims are found to have violated Saudi laws or regulations,” he said.
He said NAHCON was working closely with tour operators and other stakeholders to prepare for the proposed transition.
“We are working around the clock to meet the proposed request from the Saudi government. We meet constantly with tour operators and other stakeholders to discuss how pilgrim operations would be handled under private tour operators.
“We are optimistic that everything will go successfully when the proposed plan is implemented. Some countries are already far ahead in implementing this proposed Saudi Arabian Vision 2030 Hajj reform, but in Nigeria, the process is progressing steadily. We are on the right path,” he said.
The commissioner also dismissed speculation that Hajj fares would increase significantly or that Nigerian pilgrims would suffer if operations were transferred to private tour operators.
He assured that NAHCON would continue to regulate the sector and protect the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
Yagawal said Nigerian pilgrims had, for the past five to six years, largely financed their Hajj expenses, including air tickets, accommodation, feeding in Madinah, Makkah, Mina and Arafat, transportation, medical services and other expenses.
He said the arrangement followed recommendations made by NAHCON officials to the government after the Commission determined that it had the capacity to operate independently while receiving government support when necessary.
Read Also: Kano Pilgrims Board DG Bags IHR Award for Crisis Management, Hajj Innovation.
“This, however, does not mean that the government has totally stopped assisting the Commission. It occasionally intervenes, especially on issues related to exchange rates. Even the establishment of NAHCON itself can be counted as government intervention to ease Hajj activities for Nigerian pilgrims,” he said.
On Hajj fares, the commissioner said the process was transparent, explaining that Saudi authorities announce their policies and charges relating to accommodation and other services in Makkah, Madinah, Mina and Arafat each year.
He said NAHCON followed the policies to ensure stability in Hajj operations.
“So, I don’t think intending pilgrims would encounter any problems regarding exorbitant Hajj fare increases from tour operators,” he said.
Yagawal acknowledged that tour operators were private businesses operating for profit but said NAHCON would not allow them to exploit pilgrims or compromise service delivery.
“NAHCON is poised to sanction or cancel the licence of any tour operator who denies his pilgrims good services. Only companies that have the capacity to operate will be allocated slots for pilgrims,” he said.
The commissioner further expressed optimism that the issue of limited Hajj slots could be addressed under the new system, as private companies would be expected to collect Hajj fares from their customers within stipulated deadlines.
He said delays in payment under the current arrangement had contributed to Nigeria losing Hajj slots in previous years.
“Before, we were allocated 95,000 slots, but this year we ended up with only 50,000. So, we have the encouragement that the number of our slots will increase under the new policy,” he said.
Yagawal reiterated NAHCON’s readiness to enhance efficiency and streamline Hajj activities in Nigeria, assuring the Saudi government that the Commission was working to adjust to the new system in phases before the 2030 deadline.
He called for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders towards achieving the objectives of the proposed reform.