There has been some unsavory focus on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) lately, and to be honest, it is not the kind of focus any stakeholder would have wanted. But it is also a focus that should stimulate a conversation rather than acrimony. A conversation that will help Nigerians understand certain things, especially an average person on the street who does not understand the workings of NAHCON and its role in issues related to Hajj pilgrimage.
In recent times, the fifth columnists have taken over cyber space with the singular aim of discrediting the NAHCON over Hajj pilgrimage. Of course, there have also been attempts by those who understand the nitty-gritty of the Hajj process trying to put the record straight.
Perhaps the most troubling trend now are the allegations of fraud from various quarters against the commission. There have been petitions after petitions, and there have been unconfirmed hearsay that have been blown up without investigation. Sadly, hardly does an investigation into one of these petitions arise without being sensationalized in the media. It has gotten so bad that some sections of the Nigerian media have been labelled ‘Anti-NAHCON’ because of the consistent ritual of running the commission down.
Rather than calling the purveyors of the half-truth and hate speeches against NAHCON names, I think a few things have to be clarified to clear the air about any ambiguity as far as the commission and Hajj Pilgrimage are concerned.
Obviously, NAHCON has continued to attract the fifth columnists because of the wrong impression that it is a money spinning agency of the Federal Government where a few people sit and daily butcher billions of Naira. My decision to join this conversation stems from the fact that I used to feel the same way until I asked questions and discovered I had all along been feeding fat on propaganda and concocted figures. To this end, my take on the news about how multi-billion Naira was allegedly mismanaged at the commission will dwell more on the funding of Hajj Pilgrimage and functions of NAHCON than focusing on the purveyors of the various campaigns.
One, how many Nigerians are aware that the federal government doesn’t fund the annual Hajj Pilgrimage? Only a few know. As a commission, NAHCON generates its revenue from services rendered as an agent of transfer. In particular, the commission draws remittance from various states that annually participate in Holy Pilgrimage. In the same way, the body also attracts revenue from its annual screening exercises of airlines, cargo, cares, and service providers in the areas of accommodation and feeding.
In funding and functions, NAHCON carries the burden of humanitarian service. For instance, its role in Medina, a city of great importance in Islam, can never be overemphasized, considering the fact that the City is more of a transit camp for pilgrims, who would spend at least four days in the holy city. Here, NAHCON officials are always on the ground to provide accommodation and feeding, and this remains one of the major functions of the commission because states can not handle it.
However, there is a sharp difference between the roles played by NAHCO and states in Mecca.Unlike in Medina where the commission provides accommodation, it’s the function of the states to provide buildings and accommodation for pilgrimages in Mecca, while the function of NAHCON is restricted to mere inspection.
On the issue of payment, which has also attracted criticism in recent times, I think currently, NAHCON simply provides a benchmark of 3,000 riyal per bed space in Mecca. In Medina, this is done by NAHCON because of its transit camp status.
To this end, it’s erroneous if not misleading, the notion that the federal government sponsors Hajj pilgrimage. Every year, questions and misconceptions revolve around the Hajj pilgrimage, particularly in Nigeria, because of lack of adequate knowledge about the operations and structures of the NAHCON.
Today, it’s no more news that the Nigerian government does not sponsor Hajj. Rather, pilgrims pay their way in full. What the government does through its agencies like the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is the provision of facilitation, regulation, and diplomatic leverage to ensure Nigerians perform Hajj with dignity and ease.
Because of the sensitivity of issues related to religion in this part of the world, many stakeholders are beginning to question the consistent campaigns against Hajj and its regulatory body. It appears some fifth columnists are hell-bent to tarnish the image of the Commission. It becomes worrisome when some sections of the media have assumed the position of willing tools in the hands of these meddlers. After each Hajj, enemies within and outside the commission come out to identify flaws and sponsor smear campaigns to destabilize the organization and derail the Hajj process.
Against the journalism creed that reporters must explore all sides of an issue and report the findings accurately, a few journalists have chosen to stereotype in their approach to NAHCON. Rather than using members of the public to exaggerate the importance of a story, it is the responsibility of a journalist to critically appraise and evaluate for his readers. A journalist has a responsibility to examine his or her own motives, and ensure that his or her personal feelings and emotions do not influence what he or she reports, whom he or she talks to, or determine which elements of the story he or she highlights. But currently, it appears as if the media have found NAHCON a perpetual target for criticism, with little or no decorum about professional ethics.
For instance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigates individuals, institutions, and agencies on a daily basis. This is a normal and necessary function in any system that seeks accountability. But unlike with NAHCON, these investigations are not broadcast with such eagerness or amplified in ways that damage reputations before facts are even established. Why then is the media treating NAHCON differently? As well as fabricating stories to sell their trade.
It is important to emphasize that a petition does not equate guilt. Petitions are often written by individuals based on assumptions, allegations, misinformation, or personal grievances. By law, they are only allegations until proven otherwise. The EFCC, in its professional capacity, invites officers for questioning not because they are guilty but to allow them to provide clarity, supporting documents, and explanations. This process helps the EFCC to verify whether the claims are true, false, misunderstood, or baseless. Only after this thorough examination does the Anti Corruption Commission decide whether a case should proceed to court or be dismissed for lack of evidence.
The fact that NAHCON always emphasizes its commitment to accountability and due process, notwithstanding, promoters of hate speeches don’t wait for official findings before hitting the streets with half-truths.
This year, the commission reiterated its focus on improving services for Nigerian pilgrims, expecting an applause from the public but the reverse was the case as some individuals came out again with unverified facts about an alleged frivolity spending at the commission.
One question that has remained unanswered is; why critics have always criticized every aspect of the commission’s operation – and in recent times, its Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman?
In view of the current situation in the country, stakeholders, especially among political and community leaders in Nigeria, have urged the media to uphold professionalism, accuracy, and impartiality in their reporting and avoid unnecessary sensationalism and media trial while treating issues related to religion.
Akingbolu, a member of Muslims in the Media (MIM), writes from Lagos