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In a bold move to address the plight of Nigerian pilgrims, the House of Representatives has adopted a comprehensive report recommending sweeping reforms in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, and the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The reforms are to improve the overall Hajj experience, ensure transparency and prevent financial mismanagement.

In the forefront of these reforms is the establishment of a Hajj Tribunal to handle contract breaches, financial disputes and service failures involving NAHCON, tour operators, and pilgrims.

“This tribunal will provide a platform for pilgrims to seek redress for any grievances they may have,” said Sada Soli, chairman of the ad-hoc committee.

Another key reform is the review and renegotiation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, that allows Saudi-owned airlines to airlift 50 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims.

The report said: “This agreement has been detrimental to our domestic airlines, which have consistently shown capacity in pilgrims airlift.”

The House directed the government to renegotiate the agreement to ensure a more equitable distribution of airlift contracts.

To promote transparency, NAHCON has also been mandated to publish a detailed and transparent breakdown of all Hajj charges, justifying each cost, to prevent hidden fees and financial mismanagement.

The commission is also ensure a uniform fee structure for all pilgrims, with clear and justified cost variations where applicable.

The House equally called for an upward review of the $500 Basic Travel Allowance, BTA, to a more reasonable amount that could adequately support pilgrims during the pilgrimage.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/nigerian-pilgrims-to-enjoy-better-services-as-reps-approve-hajj-reforms/