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Mismanagement: NAHCON Faces N15bn Debt To Hajj Operators

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The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has raised serious concerns regarding a staggering debt of over N15 billion owed to its members by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

This alarming revelation was made by AHUON President Abdullateef Ekundayo in a statement released on Saturday in Abuja.

Ekundayo explained that it is customary for the Saudi government to issue refunds to participating countries after each Hajj season based on three specific criteria: services paid for but not rendered, services that were poorly delivered, and security deposits for tents.

Read More: How I Cope With Pains Of Losing Loved Ones – Davido

He emphasized that NAHCON owes its members refunds related to these categories from the 2022 Hajj operations to the present.

The AHUON President disclosed that NAHCON confirmed receiving 20 million Saudi Riyals in refunds from Saudi authorities as early as December 2023.

However, he criticized the commission for failing to formally notify the operators about this refund or discuss payment modalities.

“If not for the EFCC’s investigation into the commission, we wouldn’t have known about this payment,” he said, expressing frustration at the lack of communication.

Further complicating matters, Ekundayo highlighted that during the recently concluded 2024 Hajj operations, NAHCON received and retained over N2.7 billion in caution deposits from tour operators.

According to their agreement, these funds were to be released two weeks after the Hajj’s conclusion, but NAHCON has not refunded any of the companies that applied for it.

Instead, they have reportedly requested additional payments for the 2023 Hajj deposits.

The AHUON President lamented that many members have passed away while waiting for these refunds and expressed concern over the commission’s failure to publish a list of companies eligible for refunds, as previously agreed upon.

He pointed out that some members have significant balances in their Saudi accounts that remain inaccessible, adding, “Our members receive nothing as income from the amounts we deposit annually.”

In response to these allegations, NAHCON has stated that it is committed to addressing the concerns raised by AHUON.

The commission’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Fatima Usara, acknowledged the issues regarding accumulated refunds and emphasized that NAHCON has maintained ongoing communication with AHUON.

She attributed the delays in resolving financial matters to the complexities involved in Hajj operations, which require coordination with multiple stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.

“NAHCON wishes to reassure AHUON and the public that it has no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds,” Usara added, as both parties seek a resolution to this pressing financial dispute.

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Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda

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Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.

Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.

He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.

SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time

“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.

The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.

He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.

According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.

He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.

As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.

He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.

Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.

Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

 

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Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate

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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.

The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.

ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road

“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.

The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.

“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.

LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.

“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.

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‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria

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Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.

Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.

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“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.

“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.

Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.

“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.

He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.

“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.

His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.

Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.

Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.

NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.

The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.

 

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