Senate demands downward review of N1.5m hajj fees

The Senate on Wednesday criticised the recently approved 2017 Hajj fare packages for 23 states by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. As a result, the legislature launched a probe into the upward review to unravel the alleged corruption in the process.

The move followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Senator Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoto-South).

The Senate unanimously urged the Federal Government to “immediately direct NAHCON to review the 2017 Hajj fare downwards to a realistic, human and fair amount affordable by Pilgrims in this time of recession and economy hardship.”

The lawmakers added that the commission should also be directed to reverse the “unpopular, much-talked-about ‘forced feeding policy,’ since it negates the principle of freedom of choice for pilgrims.”

They also adopted the prayer asking the Senate to constitute an ad hoc committee to “investigate the circumstances surrounding the present feeding regime and the exorbitant airfare as fixed by NAHCON with a view to exposing any sharp practice therein and make appropriate recommendation concerning its findings to the Senate within one week.”

While moving the motion, Dambaba said the commission released the approved 2017 Hajj fare packages for 23 states on May 29th, 2017.

He said, “The Senate notes that the approved fare packages for the 23 states so far released, which include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Anambra, Edo, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Oyo, Benue, Kebbi, Yobe, Niger, Zamfara, Ekiti, Kwara, Gombe, Nasarawa, Taraba, the Federal Capital Terrotory and the Armed Forces averages about N1.550m per pilgrim.

“The Senate is aware that approved tour operators in Nigeria, which are profit-making businesses, are offering cheaper Hajj packages to intending pilgrims. The airfare charged by the tour operator is $1,000 per pilgrim, compared to the $1,650 charged by the Hajj commission.”

“It is aware also that NAHCON negotiates and provides accommodation for all pilgrims at Madinah, Minna and Arafat on behalf of all states; it also takes responsibility for feeding arrangements at Madinah, Minna and Arafat.

“The Senate however observes that the cost of feeding the pilgrim, which is in-built in the fare packages, constitutes a burden on the pilgrim since his or her right of feeding is circumscribed.”