Niger State Governor Muhammad Umar Bago says National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has failed in its statutory of responsibility of ensuring hitch free 2024 Hajj exercise, calling for its termination.
Governor Bago while answering Questions from journalists concerning the conduct of the 2024 Hajj exercise insisted that the national assembly must investigate the manner the commission spent the (N90 billion) intervention released to it by the government.
He added that as Governor he is going to appeal to their forum to work ways to ensure that commission is terminated because in his judgment it has failed in the discharge of its statutory responsibility.
He advised that organizing an annual pilgrimage to the holy land shall be left on the hand of state governors.
He noted that arranging an annual pilgrimage is something that even local governments in Nigeria can organize and therefore insisted that the federal government should withdraw its participation to that effect.
He also lamented the manner in which NAHCON failed to provide accommodation to Governors and other dignitaries at Minna.
He expressed lamentation that despite the huge amount of money paid by the Nigerian pilgrims, they were not given enough cash at take home pay.
He described as unfair how someone will pay N4M naira as Hajj fare and only be given $400USD.
He also lamented on the quality of food and accommodation provided by the Nigerian pilgrims, noting that NAHCON is supposed to be an agency overseeing the affairs of the pilgrimage, not the one organizing the annual exercise.
While acknowledging the death of two pilgrims from Minna he blamed NAHCON for not providing enough health personnel to take charge of the health condition of the pilgrims such incidences would have not occurred
