By Jonathan Lois
The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Pilgrims Affairs (when constituted) to conduct detailed investigation into the several complaints of anomalies arising from the 2023 Hajj.
The Committee is to report to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure implementation
This followed the adoption of a motion “Need to Investigate the Untold Hardship Faced by Nigerian Pilgrims at the Recently Concluded 2023 Hajj sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Idris on Thursday.
The House noted that the recently concluded Hajj exercise in the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia by over 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims had issues that requires investigation.
The House further noted that Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
particularly Section 14(2) (b) provides thus: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
It states that a total of 95,000 slots were allocated to Nigeria, which was coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and pursuant to Section 4 it is charged with the mandate of providing effective and efficient Hajj and Umrah services to Nigerian
pilgrims.
The House also informed that this year’s Hajj recorded one of the largest turnouts in its history with Al-Jazeera and other International media putting the figure at about 2.5 million pilgrims.
The House said it was aware that Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to untold hardships during the Hajj exercise from the
inability of some airlines (such as Arik) to lift pilgrims due to lack of aircraft; lack of adequate tent accommodation at Mina and Arafat; substandard tents with unhealthy living conditions and environment; lack of proper medical attention to pilgrims in cases of emergency; lack of proper transportation logistics for Nigerian pilgrims; Nigerians being made to miss their flights due to
stringent bottlenecks regarding withholding of their International Passports; and inability to secure airport slots for Nigerian airline operators for lifting of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia back to the country and many others.
The House said it was also aware that over 25,000 Nigerian pilgrims (including those who paid for Tent A VIP Class) were stranded at Mina due to inadequate tents and oversubscription leaving Nigerian pilgrims sleeping on the roads, under bridges and nearby mosques.
It noted there were cases of several
public officials (such as present and former Governors, Senators and Hon. Members) who had no tent and were made to sleep in unhealthy places and conditions
