Reps to probe NAHCON’s handling of hajj

The House of Representatives said in Abuja on Friday that it would probe the handling of pilgrimage by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa), told newsmen that the probe became necessary to address challenges faced by pilgrims.
Namdas said NAHCON, established in 2006 to perform oversight function over organisations coordinating the movements of persons from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj, had been having problem.
“It is alleged that improper supervision of the commission is partly responsible for most of the challenges faced by pilgrims,” Namdas said.
He said the probe was aimed at addressing problems of accommodation, general welfare and exorbitant charges made on visa.
The lawmaker said after the 2015 hajj, the commission was yet to release a realistic figure of Nigerian victims of the Mina stampede.
Namdas said: “The House notes with sadness that months after the 2015 hajj, the commission is yet to come up with realistic figures as to actual number of Nigerians dead, missing or injured,”
NAN.