Independent Hajj Reporters has advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to set up a task force to monitor the sale of 2014 Hajj seat by state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
The call was contained in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, in Kaduna.
It said: “With the announcement by Saudi Ministry of Hajj that the 20 per cent hajj seat cut is still in force, there is the need to ensure evenly distribution and sales of Hajj seat in the country, this is why we urge National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to set up a task force to monitor the sales of hajj seat by state pilgrims boards and tour operators.”
It added: “Such committee will address uproar that usually greets sales of hajj seat across the country. For example, while testifying before a judicial commission of inquiry headed by Justice Aisha Bawa Bwar on alleged misappropriation of hajj funds recently, the suspended Chairman of Borgu local government in Niger state, Muhammed Pisa, admitted to have diverted N13 million meant for the purchase of 2013 Hajj seat in Niger state.
“Secondly, during the Post Mortem Conference on 2013 Hajj held on March 3, 2013, at National Mosque in Abuja, NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Musa Bello, while responding to a question acknowledged that some state pilgrims board did sale their hajj seat to tour operators.
