NAHCON Chairman Blames Self-Interest, Incompetence for Hajj Problems
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, has blamed self-interest and incompetence for many of the longstanding challenges affecting Nigeria’s Hajj operations, pledging far-reaching reforms to place pilgrims’ welfare above every other consideration.
Speaking during an interview on Trust Television, Yusuf said his early assessment of the Hajj administration revealed that some of the recurring problems stemmed from poor management and vested interests rather than unavoidable circumstances.
“I have not done an analysis of the past few years to determine whether there was short-changing, but from what I have seen so far, it is a mixture of incompetence and self-interest sometimes,” he said.
The NAHCON chairman described his appointment as an opportunity to serve the Muslim Ummah, stressing that every decision under his leadership would prioritize the comfort and welfare of pilgrims.
Yusuf said the commission successfully reduced operational challenges during the 2026 Hajj through better planning, early stakeholder engagement, strict adherence to timelines and closer collaboration with relevant government agencies.
NAHCON Chairman Blames Self-Interest, Incompetence for Hajj Problems
According to him, NAHCON also introduced contingency plans for pilgrim airlift, strengthened coordination with the aviation, health and security sectors, and eliminated unnecessary expenditures that previously increased costs for pilgrims.
He disclosed that the commission rejected proposals to charge pilgrims for services that Saudi authorities already provide free of charge, insisting that Hajj funds belong to the pilgrims and must be protected from exploitation.
The chairman also revealed that NAHCON secured refunds for 10,000 substandard meals served to pilgrims from Zamfara, Niger, Adamawa and Benue states. He added that the commission negotiated lower catering costs in Madinah and will refund the resulting savings to the affected pilgrims.
Looking ahead, Yusuf said the commission would deepen reforms by deploying technology, improving procurement processes and strengthening transparency to deliver better accommodation, transportation and feeding services during future Hajj operations.
