Gov. Bago calls for probe of N90 Billion Hajj subsidy released by the Fed. Govt.
Niger State governor, Muhammad Umaru Bago has urged the National Assembly to probe the N90 billion naira Hajj subsidy released by the federal government to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON.
Umaru Bago who made the suggestion in an interview in Saudi Arabia to assess the 2024,Hajj operations.
Bago who regretted that the N90 Billion is enough to run Universal Basic Education budget for four years,saying that the pilgrims were given only $400 dollars to take care of themselves for about 40 days despite the payment of N8 Million by each pilgrim.
The Governor also argued that Hajj operation should not last beyond 2 weeks
He suggested that Hajj operation should be private sector driven for effective and efficient service delivery,and that he will lead a Committee of state Governors to meet relevant authorities for a review of the activities of NAHCON for smooth Hajj operation.
“Let the private sector drive Hajj operations, NAHCON should be a regulator at the centre. If NAHCON must exist, then they should strictly be a regulator. I am leading a committee of Governors to the NGF, from there we go to the NEC, I will propose this motion, and we will send a bill to the National Assembly where this issue of NAHCON would be reviewed”.
“NAHCON is not helping matters. Our Federal Government is too big to be worried about Hajj operations, these are supposed to be Local Government issues and not even State issues. State Government should be able to organize pilgrimage and get Agents from the private sector who will do these things the best way as other Countries are doing it,” he added.
He expressed concern over the way NAHCON has turned itself to an operator of Hajj activities instead of being a regulatory body.
Governor Umaru Bago,who recounted the hitches pilgrims encountered, described the 2024 Hajj exercise as a failure.
He disclosed that the State recorded 6 deaths of pilgrims, two (2) were due to medical challenges while four (4) were as a result of heat wave.
