National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has said that Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, was “fully” involved in negotiations that led to the 2017 Hajj fares.
The commission stated this on Tuesday in response to a statement by NSCIA, that it was not consulted before the fares were announced.
Intending pilgrims are to pay N1.5 million for this year’s Hajj. The fare, higher than what pilgrims paid in 2016, has been criticised by many.
NAHCON said the rise in the fare was due to the high exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar. It also said about 98% of the Hajj component was in dollar while only 2% is in Naira.
While dollar was exchanged for N197 last year, the exchange rate for this year is fixed at N305 to the dollar.
NSCIA in a statement early on Tuesday said it is “of the view that Hajj-fare can be less than it is, if all parties are genuinely consulted for an appropriate solution and strategy.”
In the statement signed by its Director of Organisation, Isa Okonkwo, the organisation also called for an urgent amendment of the NAHCON Act while calling on the federal government to hand over hajj matters to it ( NSCIA).
Speaking at a media parley organised by FCT chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Abuja, secretary to the commission, Mohammed Tambuwal, said that position could not be that of the NSCIA.
He said NSCIA has a member K.K Oloso in the NAHCON Board who “Is a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies in the University of Ibadan, and he was part of the committee that fixed the hajj fares”.
Mr. Tambuwal also said apart from NSCIA, a representative of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam also sits on the board and was also part of the negotiating team on the fares.
“So I believe the press statement is the opinion of the writer and not that of the NSCIA management,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
He said NAHCON keeps NSCIA apprised “on all developments including negotiations on the Hajj fare”.
The NAHCON scribe also said the commission had greatly improved Hajj operations since coming on stream in 2006.
He said before the coming of NAHCON, Hajj operations had been under ad hoc arrangements which led to “late airlift and return of pilgrims, shortfall in medical arrangements and inadequate welfare for pilgrims”.
He said NAHCON has now standardised hajj operations with little or no complaints.
“We have put in place standards, rules and regulations which has eliminated delays in Airport. Our Pilgrims normally get airlifted not more than two hours after arriving the Airport.
“Service providers are made to provide accommodation close to Haram and where it is not close, they are made to provide transport arrangements for our pilgrims,” he said.
Mr. Tambuwal said the commission also introduced feeding, starting with one meal a day and then two meals since 2016 hajj.
He also said NAHCON had solved the problem of luggage handling which used to be a major problem.
He said pilgrims were only allowed to carry an 8kg cabin bag while the 32kg bag is weighed in Makkah and transported back to Nigeria.
He said for pilgrims who have excess luggage, the commission has engaged cargo companies who handle the luggages for pilgrims.
“Even 5 litre Zamzam water is now transported back to Nigeria and given to pilgrims on arrival,” he said.
The NAHCON scribe said airlift of pilgrims was so smooth of recent such that airlift of Nigerian pilgrims was concluded seven days ahead of time last year.
On accommodation, Mr. Tambuwal said the introduction of an e-tract by the government of Saudi Arabia and the reforms introduced by the commission had eliminated the use of agents to source for accommodation for Nigerian pilgrims.
“The e-tract system allows the commission to deal directly with Hotel and accommodation owners. Using agents cause delays,” he said.
He also said the new reform has cut down on the cost of accommodation by as much as $1 million compared to last year.
Speaking earlier, the NUJ chairman, Paul Abechi, said the council organised the parley as part of its efforts “to bring MDAs to give account of their stewardship”.
PT
