The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that the caution deposit the commission collects from Private Tour Operators (PTOs) is meant to compensate any Muslim pilgrim with a genuine claim of disservice by a tour operator.
The normal procedure after every Hajj was for NAHCON to refund pilgrims that did not go for the Hajj from the defaulting company’s caution deposit.
The Deputy Director for Public Affairs, NAHCON, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, said in a press statement that NAHCON’s Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, gave the explanation during a virtual meeting with the PTOs on September 20, 2024 in preparation for the 2025 Hajj season.
Usara said prior to the virtual meeting held in the commission’s boardroom in Abuja, NAHCON had earlier met with the leadership of the Hajj private sector where the commissioner briefed participants on a number of issues, including the outcome of a virtual meeting NAHCON held with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, as well as the outcome of a meeting with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria (AHUON) leadership.
The PTOs had, under the aegis of their association, expressed concerns over a number of issues, following which NAHCON, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, invited the AHUON leadership to a meeting in order to reach an understanding.
Responding to AHOUN’s concern over the caution deposit refunds, Elegushi, who chaired the meeting, explained to the group the rationale for collecting the fund.
He said an advertisement is first placed in the national dailies inviting complaints from pilgrims, after one month’s expiration of which those companies without indictment are considered eligible for refund and are invited for reconciliation, following which they would apply for either a refund or rollover.
He said any company found wanting would, however, await the outcome of an investigation, to be followed by a reconciliation, then payment of refund after sending its formal request for it.
In 2023, out of 241 tour operators that deposited the caution deposit of N5 million each, 139 requested and received their refund, while 70 others requested a rollover of their deposits to 2024.
The remaining were those yet to be cleared of allegations and those yet to apply for their refund or rollover.
As for the 2024 refund, the invitation for complaints ended on August 10, after which 26 companies applied for refund as at the time of the meeting. The process was still ongoing.
However, due to the removal and replacement of the commission’s Chairman/CEO recently, payment could not be made at that time without an approving officer.
Elegushi confirmed during the meeting that many companies have started receiving their refund while some others have requested for rollover.
He called on those yet to request a refund to do so or rollover for the next Hajj season.
On certain offshore plights, Elegushi assured the AHUON leadership that NAHCON has been in liaison with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on matters of offshore refund for services not rendered to the PTOs, as well as on the paucity of Umrah visas.
He said these contentious issues formed part of discussions during the virtual meeting held with the Saudi authorities on September 4.
He said there are strong indications of a headway, assuring concerned AHOUN members that NAHCON will hold further discussions with the Saudis with the view of resolving the issue.
Similarly, to clear up AHUON’s demand for a N20,000,000 share from the Hajj Development Levy, the commissioner informed the group that NAHCON’s Establishment Act does not recognise cash withdrawal from the levy to pay individuals or organisations.
According to him, what the mandate stipulates is funding of projects that are beneficial to the welfare of pilgrims and their managers.
As part of new developments relayed to NAHCON by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah during the virtual meeting, the commissioner disclosed to the tour operators that the Saudis had reduced the number of lead tour operator companies to conduct the 2025 Hajj from 40 of last year to 20.
He promised to present AHOUN’s earlier request for the reduction of the caution deposit.
However, during the meeting a member of the group asked for a further reduction and the commissioner promised to take it to the management.
On the request by the group for the deposit to be made as bank guarantees instead of cash transfer, Elegushi advised them to suspend the request this year due to complexities that would need ironing out before implementation, while promising that NAHCON would continue working on this option in order to perfect it.
He also suggested that the bank guarantee option could run alongside cash deposit concurrently.
In his remarks, the President of AHUON, Alhaji Abdullateef Ekundayo, appreciated NAHCON for holding the meeting, noting it was an opportunity to discuss critical issues with the commission.
He expressed the group’s readiness to accord NAHCON the respect it deserves while the association expects the same.
Ekendayo thanked the commissioner and requested an extension of registration deadline. The extension was granted.
According to Usara, “Both NAHCON and AHUON recognised their dependability in the conduct of smooth Hajj operations” and resolved to refresh their mutual relationship as stakeholders through consultation and respect for each other’s roles.
“They both agreed to enhance communication for the sake of harmony,” she added.
Meanwhile, NAHCON called on any PTO with claims of outstanding refund at any period within the commission’s existence to forward the claims with a genuine evidence for necessary action.
