The Presidency has called for substantial reforms within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) following a recent fact-finding visit by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Hadeija. This call comes in response to concerns about financial mismanagement, negligence, and poor treatment of pilgrims.

The Commission has been under scrutiny due to controversies, including the recent appointment of a new Executive Chairman amidst ongoing investigations into the alleged mismanagement of N90 billion in Hajj funds. Gbajabiamila emphasized the need for NAHCON to realign its operations with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, advocating for early preparation and transparency in managing Hajj operations.

Addressing the issues at NAHCON, Gbajabiamila stated:

“This Commission should not be involved in any controversy because of its mandate and what it represents. It is a religious commission established to fulfill spiritual obligations for people of faith. It is concerning that issues that should never arise keep coming up related to this Commission,” he noted.

Gbajabiamila highlighted that pilgrims represent Nigeria abroad and are expected to act as ambassadors, but they often face mistreatment or poor organization by the Commission, affecting their conduct. He stated, “The buck stops at the Commission’s table, and it must take responsibility for what happens here and in Saudi Arabia.”

Regarding the recent changes in leadership, he urged NAHCON’s management to collaborate closely with the Office of the Vice President, which oversees the agency, to address past mistakes, implement necessary corrections, and ensure smooth operations for future pilgrimages. He stressed the need for reforms to align with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and improve the Commission’s operations to prevent causing pilgrims unnecessary hardship.

Deputy Chief of Staff Ibrahim Hadeija echoed this stance, emphasizing the importance of early preparation for Hajj operations. He noted, “Hajj is a large-scale logistics operation, and from the 2024 experience, early preparation is crucial.” He also called for greater transparency in informing pilgrims about what their payments cover, noting that Nigeria has the largest quota of pilgrims from Africa.

Prince Malam Abdulrazak, NAHCON’s Executive Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, suggested overhauling the Commission’s accounting system and enhancing federal character representation within the organization. He highlighted, “The Commission is supposed to be a national entity, but its staff is dominated by a particular region.”

During their visit to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Gbajabiamila also discussed disaster management in Nigeria. He suggested shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach, emphasizing the importance of prevention over mitigation. “Many disasters can be avoided with better preparation and early warnings,” he said, proposing innovative funding methods, including state contributions through an insurance scheme, to enhance NEMA’s capacity.

The discussions, attended by Deputy Chief of Staff, Permanent Secretary of the State House, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, and Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations, also underscored the role of technology and regular training in improving disaster response.

NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, reported that from January 2024 to date, the agency has provided 626,000 essential relief items to over 100,000 people across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. She also noted that 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains approved by the President have been distributed to all states except Akwa Ibom and Osun, due to logistical challenges.