Hajj Reporters: Watchdog or lapdog?

Significantly, this  genre of activists are somewhat alien to Nigeria as our own variants are mostly in bed with those whose activities they  are supposed to oversee. Sadly, rather than check abuses and excesses, as well as seek solutions to problems, they are often part of the problems. In this regard, the Independent Hajj Reporters, […]

Significantly, this  genre of activists are somewhat alien to Nigeria as our own variants are mostly in bed with those whose activities they  are supposed to oversee. Sadly, rather than check abuses and excesses, as well as seek solutions to problems, they are often part of the problems. In this regard, the Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society group, typifies the average Nigerian activist.  It is true that for every rule, there is an exception but the Independent Hajj Reporters is not amongst the exception.
Basically, the group surfaced about three years ago and its mandate is not very clear. Yearly, state pilgrims’ boards and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) sponsor journalists to Saudi Arabia to perform the Pilgrimage and file stories about the religious ritual. Essentially, the aim is to fill the information void between the pilgrims and the audiences back home in a bid to minimize rumour and anxiety. In addition, the reportage point out the inadequacies of both Hajj officials and pilgrims’ misconduct in the holy land, in order to improve the yearly exercise. Significantly, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, given its reach and huge audience, has been doing this for over 30 years. With time, the scheme was expanded to include other media organisations, especially print journalists and independent broadcast organisations.
t is necessary to raise some questions about the emergence and the mode of operations of Independent Hajj Reporters. Is the group a beat association like the Sport Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN)? Is it a collection of all reporters that have gone for hajj at one point or the other through official sponsorship? From its activities, members of this group perform hajj almost yearly, who pays for that sponsorship? Is it the National Hajj Commission or some State Pilgrims Board? If the foregoing question is true, can a civil society group effectively monitor the activities of a Board or Commission that it is supposed to supervise or over see? Is there no conflict of interest in that kind of arrangement? If it is autonomous, which donor agency funds the Independent Hajj Reporters’ operations? Significantly, these questions are necessary in order to understand the messenger before delving into the contents of his message.
On February 3, 2015, NAHCON wrote a letter to state governors, advising their state pilgrims’ boards not to commence sale of seats to intending pilgrims until they receive their seat allocations from the commission.  According to the letter, NAHCON would 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. Before then, Saudi and Nigerian Aviation Authorities were also to meet between February 16 and 17 to sort out some technical details. It was for these reasons NAHCON gave its advice.
Simultaneously, Independent Hajj Reporters issued a press statement virtually echoing NAHCON, which was published on the same February 3. In summary, the group raised concerns over sale of Hajj seats by some pilgrim boards ‘’when hajj seat allocation to Nigeria is not yet known by relevant authorities.’’ In conclusion, the statement called on NAHCON to place embargo on the sale of hajj seats. ‘’NAHCON as the apex body saddled with the responsibility of regulating hajj exercise in the country, should direct state Muslim Pilgrims Boards to halt selling of hajj seats until Nigeria quota is known,’’ the civil society group had advised.
Ordinarily, NAHCON’s advice seemed logical but the fact that Hajj Reporters jumped into the issue is curious. First, the fact that the commission’s letter was dated on the same day that Hajj Reporters press release was published,  reinforces the suspicion that the latter is not a watch dog  that over sees Hajj operations in general, but a lap dog of NAHCON. Genuine as the NAHCON’s concern seem, they are nonetheless an official cover to perpetuate corruption. From investigations, the states that commenced the sale of hajj seats did it with the intention of avoiding the last minute rush that often characterised Hajj operations.
Specifically, such pilgrim Boards used last year’s seats allocation as their benchmarks and sold a certain percentage to intending pilgrims. The rest balance, according to reports, will be sold after this year’s seat allocation by Saudi authorities and NAHCON. Going by logical projection, there is no way that their 2015 seats allocation will fall below last year’s slot. These states, in a bid to start early preparations, are toeing the line of countries like Indonesia, whose airlift of pilgrims functions with clock-like precision in spite of its large number of pilgrims. Rather than call for sanctions, Independent Hajj Reporters should have commended these states for early commencement of the annual exercise.
However, since the motive isn’t clear, the Hajj Reporters wants states to follow the well beaten path of NAHCON, which is marked by last minute rush and confusion. Corruption, racketeering and short changing of pilgrims thrive under such atmosphere of uncertainty and desperation. By so doing, dubious Hajj officials will line their pockets will illicit loot, while Hajj Reporters will look the other way. Curiously, the watch dog has never beamed its searchlight on the hiring of Carriers that will airlift pilgrims to and from the Holy land, an exclusive preserve of NAHCON.
Similarly, the commission is also said to be complicit of the non delivery of Zam-Zam water by air carriers. In the same vein, air cargo operators don’t deliver pilgrims’ luggage and the Independent Hajj Reporters has maintained a conspiracy of silence over NAHCON’s handling of feeding in the Holy Land. However, on the promptings of the commission, the attack dog is unleashed on any state pilgrim board that deviates from NAHCON’s dubious script. Independent Hajj Reporters is giving both activism and journalism (?) cause to worry.

Mohammed wrote from Fagge Quarters, Kano