As part of an ongoing investigative effort into recent media attacks targeting the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), this press release is issued to clarify emerging findings and protect the integrity of the Commission’s Executive Chairman and leadership. Evidence now shows that the negative reports circulating across several media platforms were not products of authentic journalism, but rather components of a calculated and coordinated campaign aimed at discrediting NAHCON’s leadership and manipulating public perception.
This investigation affirms that the Commission remains committed to transparency, accountability, and professionalism despite sustained attempts to undermine its work.
Findings by the Independent Investigative Journalist, K A Kontagora, reveal that a network of journalists, former officials, and disgruntled insiders has been systematically crafting and distributing misleading stories intended to pressure the Federal Government into altering NAHCON’s leadership structure. These publications identical in tone and timing were reportedly drafted in private communication groups before being released across selected digital and print platforms. Financial inducements were allegedly disguised as “editorial sponsorships” and “project support fees,” demonstrating that the smear campaign was commercially driven rather than informed by genuine public interest or ethical reporting.
Further intelligence indicates that internal actors collaborated with external media operatives to leak documents, spread rumours, and distort information to manufacture scandalous narratives. One of the most prominent fabrications, the alleged ₦50 billion shortfall has already been disproven through verified audit records. This investigation confirms that NAHCON’s financial operations remain compliant with federal standards and that no such transaction or irregularity exists. Some media houses also acted responsibly by rejecting paid content that violated broadcasting ethics, proving that professional journalism still holds firm in certain quarters.
This investigation exposes a troubling pattern in which misinformation is deployed deliberately to create public outrage, distract from verified facts, and destabilize key institutions. Many involved in this campaign appear to be former defenders of NAHCON under previous leadership, now operating as freelance agents driven by financial motives rather than journalistic integrity. Their coordinated efforts are designed to erode trust in the Commission and influence decision-making within the Hajj sector for personal or political gain.
As this inquiry continues, the investigative desk urges the public and media stakeholders to rely on verified information and uphold the ethical principles that give journalism its legitimacy. The Executive Chairman and leadership of NAHCON remain focused on their mandate to serve Nigerian pilgrims and improve the Hajj administration system. Further findings on the actors, financiers, and internal collaborators behind this orchestrated smear network will be released in due course, in the interest of transparency and public accountability.