Connect with us

News

Hajj: NAHCON’s Denial Raises Concerns As 40,000 Pilgrims Await Refunds For Unrendered Services

Published

on

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has disclaimed responsibility for providing essential services to Nigerian pilgrims, leaving over 40,000 unserved individuals worried about receiving appropriate refunds.

NAHCON has recently caused apprehension among 40,000 Nigerian pilgrims by denying its responsibility for providing essential services, such as tents, feeding, and other crucial provisions, at Muna and Arafat.

This disavowal, Elanza News reports, further decreases the chances of these unserved pilgrims receiving the refunds they are entitled to. In this article, we delve into the consequences of NAHCON’s stance and shed light on the necessity for transparency and intervention to address the concerns of the affected pilgrims.

NAHCON Shifts Responsibility For Services To Mu’assasah

NAHCON’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Mr Zikirullah Kunle Hasan, made a startling revelation during a visitation to Muna. He categorically stated that NAHCON bears no responsibility for providing services to the pilgrims at the Masha’er. Instead, he indicated that it is the Mu’assasah that handles the provision of tents, bedding, air conditioning, water supply, electricity, feeding/catering, cleaning, and waste management in both Muna and Arafat. This declaration has deepened the anxiety of the over 30,000 pilgrims who were left without these essential services during their stay in Muna.

Tent Shortages And Stranded Pilgrims

The tent shortages experienced in Muna caused outrage among the pilgrims, prompting a response from NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Mu’azu Hardawa. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Hardawa revealed that despite arriving with 95,000 pilgrims, the commission was only allocated 45,000 bed spaces, the same as the previous year. As a result, the Mu’assasah accommodated 10,000 Nigerian pilgrims in tents vacated by Turkish pilgrims after Arafat, while the remaining 30,000 were left stranded or cramped in alternative tents. This situation has raised concerns about the fairness of the allocation process and the plight of the affected pilgrims.

ALSO READ:  Reshaping Rwanda's Military Leadership: Retirement Of 12 Top Generals Following Gabon Coup

Prepaid Services And Lack Of Refund Transparency

Elanza News Investigations have shown that all Nigerian pilgrims had fully paid for the Muna services before receiving their hajj visas. However, NAHCON has failed to provide a breakdown of the 2023 hajj components, making it difficult to determine the actual amounts expected as refunds for the 40,000 pilgrims who did not receive the services they paid for. In previous years, NAHCON publicly disclosed the breakdown of hajj components, enhancing transparency in the sector. The absence of such transparency this year has raised concerns among stakeholders.

Doubts About Adequate Refunds And Contractual Agreements

There are growing fears that NAHCON’s denial of responsibility for the Masha’er services may result in inadequate refunds for the affected pilgrims, similar to what transpired in the previous year. Observers who spoke to Elanzanews.com have expressed concerns about the commission’s handling of the situation, questioning its commitment to ensuring fair compensation for the pilgrims. The existence of contractual agreements between NAHCON and the service providers further complicates the matter, as the commission’s disclaimer contradicts the terms outlined in these agreements. The stage is set for potential exploitation and insufficient reimbursement.

Allegations Of Misappropriation And Lack Of Accountability

Insiders in Makkah have shared disturbing accounts regarding NAHCON’s conduct and its implications for the pilgrims. There are allegations that the caterers who served Nigerian pilgrims in 2022 were penalized and had funds deducted from their payments, supposedly as refunds for poor services. However, NAHCON itself received only a fraction of the deducted amount as a refund, leaving questions about the fate of the remaining funds. The lack of transparency in the refund process raises concerns about potential misappropriation and accountability.

ALSO READ:  Benue: Court Remands 23 Persons Over Oju Crisis

Calls For Investigation And Intervention

The 2022 hajj refund, along with other matters, has prompted investigations into the leadership of NAHCON by anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Stakeholders, including a former President of the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN), have emphasized the need for a thorough forensic investigation to ensure the recovery of pilgrims’ funds. Additionally, the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima has been urged to address the inadequacies and ensure that pilgrims receive the rightful refunds.

Concerns About NAHCON’s Leadership And Capacity

Critics who spoke to Elanzanews.com expressed disappointment with the leadership of NAHCON, particularly in light of their celebration of the meager refund received for services not rendered. Previous public statements made by the commission contradict the claims made by Mr Zikirullah and highlight the discrepancy in the amounts refunded in past hajj seasons. Questions have also been raised about the planning and capacity of NAHCON, given the repeated failures in providing adequate services to the pilgrims.

Proposed Solutions And Future Measures

To address the recurring issues faced by Nigerian pilgrims, suggestions have been put forward by industry experts and concerned stakeholders. One recommendation is for NAHCON to revert to previous practices where state pilgrims boards engage their own caterers in Masha’er. This approach would give states more control over the provision of catering services, while the Mu’assasah focuses solely on tent-related matters. Such measures could help improve accountability, efficiency, and ensure that pilgrims’ needs are adequately met.

ALSO READ:  Rivers Assembly Issues Arrest Warrant For Electoral Chief

The recent denial of responsibility by NAHCON for providing essential services to Nigerian pilgrims has left over 40,000 individuals uncertain about receiving appropriate refunds for unrendered services.

The lack of transparency and accountability in the refund process, along with allegations of misappropriation, has further compounded the concerns.

Elanza News reports that urgent intervention is required from relevant authorities to address these issues, ensure fair compensation for the affected pilgrims, and restore confidence in the hajj commission’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.

News

Illegal Detention: IPOB Lawyer Writes Police Chiefs, Says Officers Ruined Young Marriage

Published

on

A legal practitioner, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor is demanding that the police hierarchy should investigate the arrest, brutalisation, torture, and detention of a business woman, Joy-Smart Chinenye by the monitoring unit personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, based on a petition filed by her husband, George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, over alleged debt to him.

The incident which took place on Sunday (Mothers Day) was said to have elicited a serious drama, wild condemnation and is already causing ripples among the police hierarchy.

Ejiofor, also a lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in her petition to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Retired DIG Hashimu Argungu and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on behalf of his client, said the action of the officers have succeeded in destroying a young, promising marriage and exposing private marital issues to the public.

The petition reads, “We are Solicitors to Mrs. Joy-Smart Chinenye (hereinafter referred to as “Our client”) and we write under her explicit instruction and mandate, to petition for a thorough investigation into the unprofessional conduct of the officers mentioned above.

FACTS
“Our client is an industrious, hardworking, and responsible mother and wife to Mr. Obinna George Smart Unegbu, residing in Lagos.

“Our client has been married to Mr. Obinna George Smart for over a decade, and their union has been blessed with three intelligent children. The couple faced struggles at the beginning of their marriage but worked hard to establish one of the best private schools in the South-East, achieving excellence and financial success.

“Despite occasional domestic disagreements, our client never imagined that her husband would engage police officers to subject her to inhumane treatment, abuse, bullying, and torture, for no justifiable cause.

“Our client’s ordeal began on March 27, 2025, over a dispute regarding the late remittance of business funds by her husband, for which she had set a deadline, to the knowledge and approval of her husband. On this March 27, 2025, the trio of CSP…, 2/C … and ASP …stormed their matrimonial home in Lagos, demanding to see our client in the presence of her husband and children. Her attention was immediately called to the presence of the strange visitors in their home, and for which she quickly came downstairs to ascertain their mission.

ALSO READ:  Central Bank of Nigeria Confirms No Redenomination Plans

“To our client’s greatest shock, the officers claimed they were from Area H Command Headquarters, Ikeja, and were acting on a petition filed by her husband, for which they will require her explanation regarding issues raised in the petition, which content they equally refused to disclose to our client at the material time in question. Right before our client’s children, her husband instructed the officers to immediately handcuff her and take her away. However, on our client’s insistence, a female member of this team escorted her to her room to change to a casual wear.

“Our client never resisted arrest but was denied the opportunity to contact her lawyer. The officers confiscated her mobile devices immediately and whisked her away in handcuffs, treating her with the greatest disdain as if she was a common criminal.

“Upon arrival at Area H Command Headquarters, Ikeja, our client was shown a petition from her husband regarding a financial transaction. She provided a detailed response, stating that her husband also owed her money. Despite her detailed explanation, the officers subjected our client to slapping, torture, and bullying to force her to pay the alleged debt, which she was told was the only condition that would guarantee her freedom.

“Our client’s husband witnessed all the abuse without intervening, as he was signalling approval for the apparent dehumanizing treatment. Overwhelmed and eager to return to her children, our client agreed to pay N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) out of the alleged debt of N15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira Only). The officers provided an account number, to which she transferred the funds. An indication that what the officers actually set out to achieve primarily, was to recover the alleged debt our client allegedly owed the husband. A copy of the transaction receipt is attached herewith for your ease of reference, Sir.

ALSO READ:  Six Killed as Suicide Bombers Strike Wedding in Borno

“Even after the payment, the officers insisted that our client must commit to settling the balance or remain detained, for which she refused and challenged them to either release or kill her if that was the penalty she would pay for allegedly owing her husband. It was at this juncture that the officers revealed to our client that they were from the IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja, and would transfer her to Abuja since she refused to make further payment.

“Our client was detained in FCID Unit, Panti, Lagos overnight and on March 28, 2025, was handcuffed, dragged through the Lagos Airport, and flown to Abuja against her will. In Abuja, our client was taken to the IGP Monitoring Unit, for an interface with the officer in charge of the team, where she endured further abuse, threats, bullying and intimidation, as the officer in charge also insisted that our client must settle the alleged indebtedness before she would regain her freedom.

“When our client refused to make additional payments, in settlement of the alleged outstanding sum, she was ordered to be transferred to the Abattoir-SARS detention facility- a centre known for housing criminals, kidnappers, and terrorists. In this facility, our client was made to share a cell with notorious criminals who also attacked and molested her, but for divine intervention, she could have been permanently disabled.

“Throughout our client’s illegal detention in Abuja, she was repeatedly taken to unknown locations at wee hours of the night for further coercion, bullying, threats and intimidation to pay this money. It will be pertinent that an investigation is conducted for further revelation on other malfeasance that was meted to her during this period she was taken outside the detention facility.

“On one occasion, our client was taken outside the facility in the night, her phone was given back to her, and she was forced to call her cousin, to demand help with the payment, an indication that she was principally held on account of her inability to settle this alleged outstanding indebtedness.

ALSO READ:  NIPR to organise spokespersons summit in March

“This torment continued until our intervention secured her release in the late night of March 30, 2025, with the obvious assistance of the Police High Command. However, the physical and emotional scars remain.

Findings
“It is crystal clear that from the trajectory of the foregoing accounts, the officers are under no illusion that they were procured by our client’s husband to engage in debt recovery. It is a matter of common knowledge that your good offices had on several occasions issued clear directives, prohibiting police personnel from engaging in debt recovery.

“Our client was arrested in Lagos, subsequently transferred to Abuja, and subjected to torture, bullying, threats and intimidation, despite knowing that the subject matter was a civil matter, particularly between a husband and his wife.

“The officers coerced our client into paying N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) into a strange bank account, not her husband’s account, and insisted she settle the alleged balance before her release, and her failure to settle the balance led to subsequent grave inhuman treatment meted to her.

“The actions of these officers have succeeded in destroying a young, promising marriage and exposing private marital issues to the public, which would have been totally avoidable and unnecessary if the officers had acted with circumspect and utmost professionalism.

Prayers
“Given these serious violations, we respectfully urge the Chairman to:
Launch a comprehensive investigation into these disturbing allegations that bothers on unethical conduct of the trio of CSP …, 2/C …, and ASP ….

“Take appropriate disciplinary action against these officers for their gross abuse of power.

“Recover and return the N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) extorted from our client.

“Restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force by ensuring that officers adhere to ethical standards. We trust in your swift intervention, Sir, to deliver justice and uphold the integrity of the Force. Please, accept the assurances of our highest regards, Sir.”

 

Continue Reading

News

Sokoto Governor Bags ANCOPS’s Excellence Award In Education

Published

on

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

In view of his numerous contributions to human capital development especially in the  education sector, the Sokoto state chapter of All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS) has conferred the award of Best Performing Governor on the state governor Ahmed Aliyu.

Making this known when ANCOPPS delegation paid  Salah homage on the governor, the State chairman of the association, Comrade Muhammed Ikililu, said the governor’s outstanding performance in the education sector especially the approval of 200,000 naira monthly maintenance stipend to principal’s of all the schools in the state stood him out amongst his peers hence the resolve to so honour him.

According to Ikililu, some of the tangible achievements which qualified the governor for the award include the renovation of many primary and Secondary and Primary schools across the state in less than two years.

“Prior to the coming of the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration, all Secondary schools in the state were in a state of disrepair, lacking conducive classrooms, staff rooms, toilet facilities for both teachers and students as well as general conducive learning environment.

“This lack of toilet facilities in schools had contributed significantly to the low attendance of female students in schools. This is also in addition to the  introduction and sustainance of N200,000 naira monthly cash allocation to all the Principals to enable them undertake minor repairs in their schools”.

The Chairman further thanked the governor for upward the upward review of students’ feeding allowance from N150  to N450  per student, a gesture which according to him has greatly helped in retaining students in schools.

ALSO READ:  Benue: Court Remands 23 Persons Over Oju Crisis

“”These efforts made by governor Ahmed Aliyu had no doubt significantly improved the students’ turn out and retention in schools”, the ANCOPs chairman enthused.

In the same vein, the management management of the State Universal Basic Education Board under its Chairman, Alhaji Ummaru Na Gwari Tambuwal while on a Salah homage also lauded governor Aliyu’s recent renovation of some primary schools in the state, and the payment of N70,000  minimum wage to primary teachers across the state.

“Before you came, many of our teachers were denied their promotions, but that has now become history as all the teachers that are due for promotion have been promoted. And the support of all the teachers is assured at all times” Nagwari Tambuwal noted.

Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu called on ANCOPSS and SUBEB to reciprocate the gestures done to them by the present administration by being punctual, dedicated and committed to their duty.

“I expect extra hard work, commitment and dedication from  all of you so that our students can get the best of education,” Ahmed Aliyu charged

The governor further reassured his administration’s determination to create a more conducive atmosphere that would guarantee effective teaching and learning at both basic and secondary levels.

He also appealed to parents and guardians in the state to cooperate with the state government in its quest to change the old narrative of Sokoto being one of the educationally  backward states in the federation.

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu approves N20bn take-off fund for NASRDA’s project

Published

on

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to commence the implementation of its space regulation and licensing mandate with N20 billion take-off fund approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Adepoju said the regulatory function of the agency as encapsulated in NASDRA Act (2010) had remained unfulfilled since its establishment in 1999.

He spoke against the background of NASRDA stakeholders’ workshop on space regulation scheduled for April 8.

He said on assumption of office he raised a memo to President Bola Tinubu on the need to enforce the regulatory functions of NASDRA.

According to him, this is in line with the provisions of Section 6 and 9 of the laws establishing it, adding that Tinubu eventually approved the take-off fund.

“When I raised that memo stating that our space can no longer be unregulated, Mr President graciously approved the take-off fund of N20 billion few months ago.

“This is to enable us to commence the space regulation and spectrum management in Nigeria.

“Although times and lots of activities happen that have security implications but if we don’t take charge of our space sector, it will continue to be misused,’’ Adepoju said.

Adepoju said the agency was yet to access the N20 billion, adding that release of funds was always subject to its availability.

“Within the framework of what is possible for us to do now, we’ve set up the platform and we are commencing our regulatory and licensing functions,” he told NAN.

ALSO READ:  Breakthrough As Eye Centre Begins Corneal Refractive Surgery

He explained that the space sector had three segments, the upstream, midstream and downstream.

“We have the upstream, which is deep space, the midstream, which is in between the space objects, such as satellites and the planet Earth.

“We have the downstream, which has to do with ground stations, activities and people who are utilising space products and services.
“In between these three sectors, there are activities that must be regulated otherwise Nigerians will be short-changed.

“People have to be licensed and issued guidelines, the spectrum within Nigeria has to be monitored and the agency has been granted this power since 2010 and this has lots of benefits,’’ he said.

Adepoju said the platform for the licensing was ready and open to both public and private sector operators in the space arena.

The licensing, he said, was available for people using and providing space products and services.

He emphasised the need for strict oversight of satellite image providers, geographic information system operators, satellite-based telecommunication and broadcasting services, among others.

He also said that if unregulated, geographical data intelligence could be exploited by non-state actors for illicit activities.

The Director-General further told NAN that the initiative would enhance national security, economic diversification and local content development.

He said it would also generate revenue from sub-sectors such as oil and gas, shipping and telecommunications relied on space products for their operations. (NAN)

Continue Reading