Hajj and seats racketeering

Over the years, hajj seats sales have been fraught with official corruption, hoarding and racketeering.Just last month, the issue was brought to the front burner as some states defied the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and illegally began the sale of the seats. As usual, Independent Hajj Reporters, a non-governmental organization, reporting […]

Over the years, hajj seats sales have been fraught with official corruption, hoarding and racketeering.
Just last month, the issue was brought to the front burner as some states defied the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and illegally began the sale of the seats.
 As usual, Independent Hajj Reporters, a non-governmental organization, reporting and commenting on hajj activities, intervened by cautioning the states to adhere to the hajj regulatory body’s advice to reduce the racketeering.
But this harmless intervention didn’t go down well with a particular State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (SMPWB).
It thus went berserk sponsoring opinion articles in some newspapers by one Danjuma Muhammed, unleashing outright blackmail, impulsive aggression and adult manifestation of guilt.
Though the author claimed to be from Kano but going by his inductive reasoning, he clearly emanated from the “obvious suspect” in the recent illegal sales of hajj seats.
Out of sheer intellectual indolence, the ghost writer spent ample time questioning the emergence or the modus operandi of the Independent Hajj Reporters – as if the role of a registered civil society organization is a rocket science.
A simple Internet search could have revealed the profile of the civil society and how it has been consistent in reporting and commenting on hajj activities in the country.
Going by its documented antecedent in hajj reporting, it is quite malicious for anyone to accuse Independent Hajj Reporters of being a lapdog of NAHCON.
The statement by Independent Hajj Reporters was a harmless advice, urging SMPWBs not to sell hajj seats now to avoid the racketeering associated with the exercise. But why did this inoffensive statement raise the angry antenna of a state pilgrims’ board remain a puzzle.   In observance of its role as a civil society that aimed at deepening transparency and a hitch-free hajj exercise, Independent Hajj Reporters has had cause to issue public statements to caution or appreciate NAHCON, as well as other stakeholders in hajj operation, when the need arose.
Our watch dog role is not limited to reporting and commenting on hajj operation and Umrah alone, but also encouraging hajj stakeholders to do the right things for the benefit of pilgrims and Muslims.
For example, on 13 August, 2013, Independent Hajj Reporters released a statement criticizing NAHCON on the yearly increment in the price of hajj seats; and also demanded for breakdown of the hajj fee, as published in the Daily Trust of 14 August, 2013.
On 20 June, 2014, the civil society also issued a statement titled “Journalists caution NAHCON against double standard”, where it urged NAHCON to be fair to all hajj service providers.
 Also, Independent Hajj Reporters issued dozens statements on issues that bother on the commonwealth of Nigerian pilgrims that even incurred NAHCON’s wrath. These two stories on pilgrims living in dirty environment in Muna, Saudi Arabia captured samples of our role in ensuring better service delivery to pilgrims not minding whose ox is gored.    
With the above, can any rational mind brand the Independent Hajj Reporters “a lap dog of NAHCON?”
The writer admitted that in essence, there was a directive from NAHCON via a letter dated February 3, 2015, and sent to state governors and copied SMPWBs “not to commence sale of seats to intending pilgrims until they receive their seats allocation from the commission.”
According to the letter and as stated in the fifth paragraph of the ghost writer’s piece “NAHCON will meet the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj on March 19, in order to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for Hajj 2015. At that meeting, the hajj slots allocated to Nigeria will be unveiled.”
Here comes the puzzle: If actually all SMPWBs received such directive, why would a SMPWB arrogantly violate the directive from its apex regulating body and go ahead to flag- off sales of hajj seats?
Many states are yet to commence the sales of hajj seats in compliance with NAHCON directive. In fact, the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, which earlier wanted to commence the sales of hajj seats, rescinded its decision based on the directive by NAHCON as reported by the Weekly Trust newspaper.
The writer did not also refute the fact that those who sponsored the write-up acted against the law, but only protesting against Independent Hajj Reporters statements.
To admit his barefaced hypocrisy, the ghost writer said “NAHCON advice seems logical” but still contradicted himself by questioning the reasons behind Independent Hajj Reporters’ statement that simply urged SMPWBs to comply with this “logical advice.”
 In another sentence, he said “genuine as NAHCON’s advise seems, but they are nonetheless an official cover up to perpetuate corruption.”  
I wonder who is guilty of graft between a SMPWB boss who illegally collected money from intending pilgrims with the promise of giving them what he does not have yet,  and a civil society that issued a press statement urging the former not to engage in that illegality.
In its scavenging attempt to discredit the civil society, the writer alleged that members of the Independent Hajj Reporters do travel on the hajj seats provided by NAHCON. The other Independent Hajj Reporters press statement titled “Journalists urge NAHCON to sanction pilgrims’ boards” irked the SMPWB.  
We only called on NAHCON to sanction SMPWBs that violated its directive. In the same statement, we also urged it to appreciate states that abide by its directive with a specific reference to the FCT.
As an NGO, the source of funding of Independent Hajj Reporters is clearly stated in its constitution which is donation and contributions from members.
The identities of our members in various media houses are known.  Mr. ES and Mr PRO, let it be clear that Independent Hajj Reporters had never solicited for hajj seats from any state or NAHCON for its members.
As an NGO, our members are free to be nominated by government agencies if they believe that they will add value to their services, but that will not in any way hamstrung the civil society from adhering to the ethics of the profession.                      
On the issue of service delivery, we are aware that the commission placed adverts on newspapers urging individuals or organisations with complaints on hajj to forward it to the commission. One is amazed that the author, who is a head of a state pilgrims board has to wait for so long before he spoke.
Mr. ES and Mr. PRO should know that it’s foolhardy for those who live in a glass house to engage in stone throwing games.
Ibrahim Muhammed  is the national coordinator of Independent Hajj Reporters