By Ibrahim Yerima
In recent months, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been engulfed in controversy, administrative setbacks, and widespread public concern. At the centre of the debate is a critical question: Who should supervise NAHCON the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) or the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
While some actors push aggressively for NAHCON to revert to SGF oversight through open letters to President Tinubu that appear suspiciously timed amid escalating scandals, a closer look shows that stronger supervisory authority under the Vice President is not only legal it is urgently necessary.
These calls, including a recent one from a self-proclaimed and non-existent “Nigerian Muslim Coalition” published by Sahara Reporters on December 5, 2025, look more like a desperate bid to evade accountability than a genuine plea for reform.
Their ignorance of the Hajj industry was raised to a higher degree when the ghost writer claimed that NAHCON was under SGF after the leasing of its Establishment Act. No, NAHCON was initially under the office of the Vice President when Al Atiku Abubakar was the VP under Obasanjo’s Presidency.
Hypocritically, they conveniently ignore the Chairman’s role in the current crises and the Vice President’s proven interventions that have averted total collapse.
The Law Is Clear: The Vice President Is Part of “The Presidency”
Section 20 of the NAHCON Act 2006 places the Commission under the Presidency, explicitly stating that it “shall function” under the President’s office.
In law and governance, the Presidency encompasses the President, Vice President, Chief of Staff, and other key aides, not just the SGF. President Tinubu’s June 20, 2023, directive returning NAHCON (alongside NEMA) to the Vice President’s office was explicitly “in compliance with their various establishment Acts.”
They claim the Act mandates SGF supervision, but that’s misleading.
Historical practice under the SGF worked when NAHCON had competent leadership; today, with scandals piling up, the Act’s flexibility allows for the Presidency’s most effective arm, the Vice President’s office, to step in. Reverting now would be a step backwards, rewarding failure with leniency.
Why Past SGF Oversight Worked and Why It No Longer Does
It is often argued that NAHCON performed well when it was previously reported to the SGF. But those successes came not because the SGF was the ideal supervisory organ, but because NAHCON enjoyed highly competent Chairmen who ensured early planning, strong coordination with aviation, foreign affairs, and security agencies, and credibility with Saudi authorities. They are men who understand the difference between administrators and a blunderer
Those conditions no longer exist. Leadership weaknesses at the helm of NAHCON have exposed the limitations of SGF-based supervision, which is too broad, too dispersed, and too administratively overloaded to manage the complexities of Hajj operations. The SGF coordinates dozens of agencies, diluting focus on a high-stakes operation like Hajj that demands real-time political clout.
Under Vice President Kashim Shettima, However, we’ve seen swift, decisive action summoning the Chairman and board for accountability sessions, micromanaging service provider selections, and securing Nigerian slots with Saudi carriers to prevent embarrassment.
December 6, 2025
