An expert in Hajj and Umrah matters, the National Coordinator of Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), Ibrahim Muhammad, has raised concerns about systemic misconfigurations, operational inefficiencies, and the urgent need for transparency in managing public funds and services for Hajj pilgrims.
Speaking at a high-level Hajj Stakeholders summit organised by the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) in Abuja, Mallam Muhammad, one of the lead speakers at a panel that discussed transparency and accountability in Hajj financing questioned the very foundation of the operating system behind pilgrimage logistics, suggesting that a structural disconnect exists between the system and its operators.
“We need to ask: Is the problem the operating system or the operators themselves?” he asked. The comment sparked a wider debate on institutional accountability and operational integrity.
According to him, multiple interactions with critical stakeholders, such as government agencies, private operators from Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have revealed a pattern of mistrust and poor information sharing. “There’s a fundamental lack of trust among all stakeholders, including the political class,” he noted, citing comments from Professor Gabadeen, the Deputy Rector of the HIN, who earlier delivered a paper on the erosion of credibility within the system.
An example was provided from 2023, when an independent body submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all state pilgrims’ welfare boards, seeking details on service templates and financial expenditures.
“We simply asked: how much is paid for flight, accommodation, and transport? The response was silence. This tells us everything we need to know about how public funds are being managed.”
He further criticized the opacity of the high-savings scheme related to pilgrimage funding, pointing out that the lack of clarity and feedback on financial deductions breeds mistrust. “Pilgrims should know what each service costs. If services are not rendered, they should be refunded. That’s the minimum standard.”
He also lamented the absence of effective oversight, noting that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wields executive, judicial, and even legislative powers over its operations, a structure that could encourage abuse without checks and balances. “The Commission can formulate, implement, and penalise all in one breath. It’s time for reform,” he said.
Referring to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and India, he acknowledged that while they also face challenges, their systems at least offer responsive mechanisms for correction. “In Nigeria, we don’t just lack trust, we lack the will to fix what we find broken.”
He closed his remarks by calling for a unified, multi-stakeholder response, involving judicial, financial, and civil institutions. “Until we cooperate, Nigerians will continue to face systemic failures in services that are fundamental to public trust and religious duty.”
The session ended with a strong call to open up information on financing and allow greater public scrutiny, emphasising that reform must begin with access, accountability, and the political will to change.
