By Sunday Isuwa, Abuja

The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), representing tour operators, has urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to address its concerns directly rather than creating a divide between the public and the Association.

This call for dialogue comes in reaction to a recent NAHCON press release that portrayed AHUON as an obstructive force hindering the 2025 Hajj preparations. In light of NAHCON’s ongoing financial obligations, AHUON has instructed its members to halt preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage, despite multiple letters sent to the Commission.

In a statement issued by National President Abdullateef Ekundayo Yusuf, AHUON questioned why NAHCON was focused on its members’ suspension of preparations for 2025 when it had a significant number of intending pilgrims—75,000—to manage. The Association criticized NAHCON for seemingly disregarding the role of tour operators, who facilitate 20,000 out of the total 95,000 allocated slots, only to later claim their importance in public statements.

AHUON highlighted that it had sent five letters to the Commission since June, with a delayed response that failed to address its concerns. The Association noted, “We requested a meeting with the Commission on June 23, 2024, at their Makkah office, but our request was declined. We had to wait until September 10, 2024, for NAHCON to invite us. How can they claim to be open to dialogue?”

The Association expressed disappointment that NAHCON had chosen to mislead the public regarding the Saudi 2025 Hajj calendar, presenting AHUON as the entity obstructing the preparations. They emphasized that Nigeria’s total allocation is 95,000 slots, of which only 20,000 are managed by tour operators, raising questions about NAHCON’s focus on these operators over the larger group of state pilgrim boards.

AHUON accused the Commission of prioritizing financial gains from its members to fund their trips to Saudi Arabia, rather than addressing pressing issues. The Association pointed out that there are still four months before the issuance of Hajj visas, allowing ample time for NAHCON to engage with them constructively.

AHUON reiterated its demand for NAHCON to resolve the outstanding issues presented by the Association, instead of prematurely judging who will participate in the 2025 Hajj.

Additionally, they requested a refund of over N15 billion, including more than N2.7 billion in caution deposits and other financial commitments owed to them and their members. The statement highlighted that since 2004, NAHCON has held funds belonging to AHUON members due to various engagements, such as unused visas and excess payments, without any sign of repayment. Many members have passed away while awaiting these refunds.

Furthermore, AHUON noted that some members have significant balances in their Saudi bank accounts (IBAN) that remain inaccessible. For over three years, the Association has sought NAHCON’s assistance in facilitating the release of these funds, but their requests have gone unaddressed.