600 Hajj pilgrims absconding in Saudi Arabia false – NAHCON
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has refuted claims that over 600 Nigerian pilgrims stayed in Saudi Arabia beyond their scheduled return after performing the lesser Hajj. This denial comes in response to allegations made by former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani, who posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday. Sani’s tweet expressed concerns that the supposed extended stay of these pilgrims might lead Saudi authorities to impose stricter visa regulations, potentially affecting future travelers.
In response, Fatima Usara, NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, clarified that there is no record of such incidents from either Saudi or Nigerian authorities. She emphasized that neither the Saudi Arabian authorities nor the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Services have reported any cases of pilgrims overstaying their visas.
Senator Sani’s remarks follow recent controversies involving the Hajj Commission, including the dismissal of former Chairman Jalal Arabi by President Bola Tinubu. Arabi was removed from office amid allegations of mismanagement and the diversion of N90 billion in Hajj subsidy funds.
The recent Hajj pilgrimage saw 51,477 Nigerian pilgrims traveling to Jeddah and Mina, each paying approximately N6.9 million for the journey. The inaugural flight for the 2024 Hajj season departed from Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi on May 15, 2024, carrying 422 pilgrims, and the final return flight landed in Ilorin, Kwara State, on July 16, 2024, with 286 pilgrims.
Sani’s claim suggests that these 600 pilgrims would have remained in Saudi Arabia for about six weeks since the end of the pilgrimage, raising questions about their prolonged stay.
Meanwhile, former Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi Haroon (retd.), has called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mismanagement of the N90 billion Hajj subsidy. During his recent visit to Saudi Arabia as a guest of King Salman, Haroon reported that some pilgrims had received only $200 instead of the promised $500 as a travel allowance, with the discrepancy also reflected in the amount given to them in Riyals upon arrival.
Haroon stressed the need for a thorough investigation into these allegations and urged that any individuals found guilty of dishonesty, which he claims led to unnecessary suffering for the pilgrims, should face appropriate consequences. He expressed his dismay at the idea that those who traveled for religious purposes would be involved in such misconduct, calling for greater transparency and fairness.
