Nigeria’s Hajj Commission Vows to Address Concerns Amid Refund Dispute
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has pledged to address the concerns raised by the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) regarding accumulated refunds. The commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, acknowledged the issues and assured the public that NAHCON has been in continuous communication with AHUON to resolve the matter.
The dispute arose after AHUON directed its members to suspend participation in the 2025 Hajj preparations due to NAHCON’s failure to pay refunds to its members. In response, Usara emphasized that the delay in resolving certain financial issues is attributed to the complexities of hajj operations, which involve multiple stakeholders locally and internationally, including Saudi authorities.
NAHCON has been working to align with the Saudi Hajj calendar to avoid disruptions in the 2025 Hajj preparations. On September 24, the commission communicated with AHUON regarding the urgency of this alignment, a position that NAHCON still maintains as critical. According to Usara, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has directed that only 20 lead companies will organize hajj from Nigeria for ease of coordination and proper regulation.
Usara advised the leadership of AHUON and its members to allow ongoing arrangements to yield the desired results without impeding the timely planning of the 2025 hajj operations. The president of AHUON, Abdullateef Ekundayo, had earlier announced the suspension of activities related to 2025 hajj due to the failure of NAHCON to pay refunds to its members. Ekundayo stated that the decision was necessary to ensure that all AHUON’s requests before NAHCON are duly met, especially those related to accumulated refunds.
As the dispute continues, NAHCON’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by AHUON is crucial in ensuring the success of the 2025 Hajj preparations.
