NAHCON board member confirms high-level corruption in Hajj operations

A National Commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Muhammad Bin-Uthman, has raised the alarm over alleged large-scale corruption within the commission, particularly in the handling of the 2025 Hajj operations.

Bin-Uthman, who represents the North-West geopolitical zone on the NAHCON board, made the revelations during a Hausa-language programme, Rigar Kaya, aired on Lumana Radio International. He accused the commission’s leadership of sidelining board members in critical decisions and shrouding contract awards in secrecy.

According to him, the Federal Government approved a subsidy of N90 billion for the 2025 Hajj exercise, but board members were kept in the dark about how the funds were disbursed. “We didn’t know how the money was spent,” he said. “NAHCON awarded a contract to a Saudi Arabian firm without informing the six commissioners representing the country’s geopolitical zones. Even the director of operations was unaware and threatened to escalate the matter to the presidency.”

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Bin-Uthman alleged that corruption is most rampant in hotel accommodation, feeding, transportation, and Daily Travel Allowances (DTAs) for pilgrims. He said the EFCC’s ongoing investigation into NAHCON’s activities is a welcome development that could restore the commission’s integrity and vindicate innocent officials.

“Those involved have been going in and out of EFCC offices, and they can’t mention our names because we were not involved,” he stated. “The EFCC probe is good; it gives everyone the chance to clear their name. If you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear.”

He also lamented the lack of transparency and consultation within NAHCON, despite the provisions of the NAHCON Establishment Act, 2006, which mandates board involvement in key decisions. “As a national commissioner, I’m not aware of most of the things going on. The management is supposed to report to us and consult on policies, but they never did,” he said.

Bin-Uthman disclosed that he had privately advised NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Saleh Pakistan, on some of the issues but stopped short of revealing details. “Prof. Pakistan is my friend, and I respect him. But I cannot take the blame for someone else’s wrongdoing. Silence is no longer golden,” he said.

The commissioner added that he learned of some corrupt practices from one of his students in Madinah, who flagged irregularities in the procurement of services for Nigerian pilgrims.

Bin-Uthman’s revelations come amid reports that two senior NAHCON officials have been detained by the EFCC over alleged financial misconduct tied to the 2025 Hajj.

As the probe deepens, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the anti-graft agency will unravel the full extent of the alleged rot and bring the culprits to book.

NAHCON board member confirms high-level corruption in Hajj operations