Stakeholders warn that placing NAHCON under the Vice President risks politicising Hajj operations and weakening institutional stability.

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

A coalition of Nigerian Muslim stakeholders in Hajj administration has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s (NAHCON) supervisory framework to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), as originally provided in the 2006 Establishment Act.

In a letter signed by Hassan Abdullahi and Danladi Bello, the group argued that although NAHCON is legally under the Presidency, its Act does not assign supervisory powers to the Vice President. They noted that past administrations executed this oversight through the SGF, a model they described as neutral, stable, and effective.

The coalition said the shift introduced in June 2023—placing NAHCON directly under the Vice President—moved the commission from an established administrative structure to a political one, potentially exposing Hajj operations to partisan influence. They warned that such an arrangement could undermine long-standing reforms that once helped Nigeria shed its reputation for poor Hajj coordination.

According to them, supervision under the SGF had produced strong results for over a decade, enabling Nigeria to build a reputation as one of the most organised Hajj delegations in the Muslim world. They cautioned that continued political interference may weaken inter-agency cooperation critical to transportation, medical services, feeding, and safety in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The group reminded the President of the consequences of past structural instability, referencing the 1991 Jeddah crash, the 1996 Saudi ban on Nigerian pilgrims, and repeated board dissolutions. They stressed that what truly matters to Nigerians are conditions on ground in Makkah and Madinah—not bureaucratic arrangements in Abuja.

They urged President Tinubu to order a formal review of the current supervisory setup and restore the commission’s reporting line to the SGF while keeping NAHCON legally under the Presidency. They further requested that future proposals to relocate NAHCON to any ministry or political office be subjected to broad stakeholder consultation.

The coalition said the President’s decision will shape Hajj administration for years to come and determine whether NAHCON remains a professional institution or drifts toward politicisation.

Source: Sahara Reporters