Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has asked the National Assembly to investigate the N90 billion spent on 2024 Hajj subsidy operations, citing “failure” of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) in managing the funds.
In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Sunday, the Bago Governor expressed disappointment with the performance of NAHCON, stating that the N90 billion subsidy would have been better if it had been distributed to the states.
He noted that the funds could cover the Universal Basic Education budget for four years.
The Governor, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia to celebrate Sallah with a large entourage, including the female Permanent Secretary of the state, disclosed that Niger State lost six pilgrims, two due to medical challenges and four due to the heat wave that claimed over 1000 lives. .
Governor Bago called for a review of the NAHCON law, and criticized the commission’s direct involvement in organizing the Hajj instead of focusing on regulations. He recommended the private sector take the lead in organizing the Hajj, with NAHCON acting as the oversight body.
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“Let the private sector control Hajj operations, NAHCON must be the regulator at the center. “If NAHCON must exist, it must be a strict regulator,” he said.
He announced plans to submit a motion to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) to review the role of NAHCON and send a bill to the National Assembly.
The governor stressed that Hajj arrangements should be handled at the local government level, with states engaging private sector agencies to manage the process efficiently, as seen in other states.
“We will send a draft law to the National Assembly to review this NAHCON issue. NAHCON didn’t help. Our Federal Government is too big to worry about organizing the Hajj; “This should be a regional government matter, not a state matter,” he concluded.
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