By Ibrahim Muhammad
National Coordinator
Independent Hajj Reporters
High-wire intrigues, multiplex confusion and unnecessary chaos is being created around the selection of hajj service providers unnecessarily at a time all hands should have been on deck to ensure a successful hajj this year.
Once again, we have exposed and exported our penchant for late hour rush which has degrade the image of Nigeria – a country that sits in a privileged position as the fifth largest hajj contingent in the world and the leading hajj nation in Africa.
The Mutawif for African non-Arabs was the services provider that has served Nigerian pilgrims for decades, especially within the Masha’ir area. The Non-African Arab Mutawif metamorphosed into Ithraa ALKHAIR and Ithraa Aljoud after the Saudi Ministry if Hajj deregulated hajj services providers structure of operations.
Their recent poor performance in terms of service delivery draws condemnations from pilgrims and hajj administrators alike but ‘poor’ services are not the only reason for the outcry- there may be other unspoken interests therein.
Now, NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards did the right thing by going for different service providers in response to the outcry from stakeholders. The choice of Mashriq Al Dhahabia was a collective decision by the States and NAHCON but suddenly, NAHCON seems to have changed its mind and begins the process of replacing the service provider it earlier screened and selected; even some Private hajj and umrah companies who had protested that they were forced in 2024 to patronize Ithraa Alkhair has selected Ithra’a Al joud this year and there are temptations to believe that it is not about ‘poor services’ afterall.
The difference between Ithraa Alkhair and Ithraa Aljoud is like the difference between FCT and Abuja – they have one body but different names.
The confusing aspect is the ‘lone ranger” role being played by the leadership of NAHCON to change the hajj service providers in an issue that involved 36 States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and FCT. The states have openly kicked against the move and yet, the insistence continues. It has now entered the issue of “splitting of a contract to 50:50” between Mashriq Aldhahabia and Ikram Aldiyafa. There is absolutely nothing wrong if it is all about efficient services and we have enough time to handle the aftermath.
With less than 42 hours to the deadline, it is only Nigeria’s hajj body that is yet to decide which of the service providers will offer service to its state pilgrims let alone make payment for services in Mina and Arafat.
Extending the deadline for Nigeria to allow intending pilgrims balance up and possibly having new intending pilgrims could have been more important than the politics of changing hajj service providers. NAHCON could have lobby for extension of period of registration through the Nigeria consulate in Jeddah to soften the pressure of time limit which is now dangling on our face.
At the time of writing this piece, the private hajj operators are in serious danger of losing their business because NAHCON hasn’t been able to upload payment to its selected service providers via the E portal.
However, the events playing out this week show that Nigeria’s internal politics is destroying the Hajj industry and we may never know where the vehicle of confusion will take us to.
This is the primary reason Independent Hajj Reporters has in a press statement suggested the signing of 3-year contracts with Hajj service providers especially within the Mashair area to allow the Nigeria Hajj Industry to breathe and create stability for the system.
After the 2024 hajj, we are against the status quo ‘ante’ of a hajj service provider who has provided services and now we have the ‘anti-status quo’ opposed to the newly selected hajj service provider that is yet to provide services – and the whole controversy may not relate to struggle for the interests of Nigerian pilgrims rather a derivable beneficial interests.
