The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed disappointment over the alleged refusal of some states to allocate slots to Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS) contributors.

The commission’s spokesperson, Mousa Ubandawaki, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Makka, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ubandawaki said those who enrolled through the scheme faced inconveniences in Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“These states have attributed their actions to NAHCON and Jaiz Bank’s purported failure to timely remit the funds to the respective state boards.

“We categorically state that such excuses are baseless and unfounded.

“It is pertinent to clarify that Jaiz Bank promptly remitted the HSS fares to the states well in advance of this year’s hajj.

“This was even before many state pilgrim boards remitted their payment,” he said.

He added that NAHCON and states pilgrims agencies had earlier resolved that the allocation of seats be 60/40 per cent to pilgrims under state boards and the Hajj Savings Scheme subscribers.

Mr Ubandawaki particularly berated the Kaduna State pilgrims agency for trying to blame NAHCON for its lapses.

He said the pilgrims’ welfare board should have reserved 40 per cent of the seats allocated to it, which was 2,000, for the HSS.

“Even at this, only 108 of the 2,000 expected enrolled via the scheme in Kaduna state out of the 6,255 allocated to them.

“What is playing out lately is that some states have been doing everything to consistently undermine the commission and the scheme in many ways,” he said.

Mr Ubandawaki emphasised that the information disseminated by the Kaduna State Pilgrims Board and others was false and malicious, intended to vilify and blackmail the commission and damage its integrity.

He assured that the commission was working to deal appropriately with the issue and bring to book those bent on undermining the policy or denying the subscribers the right to participate in the hajj. 

(NAN)