27th June, 2024
Lagos State Government has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON to convene a meeting with all States of the federation to discuss the challenges faced during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and find a lasting solution.
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode made the call during a press conference held at the Alsaad Flower Hotel 2, Misfalah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The Commissioner explained that most of the challenges encountered during this year’s Hajj were from the inadequacies of the Hajj Commission, stressing that the South West region is not pleased with the food served in Mina as well as accommodation provided in Makkah.
He said, “We had a lot of challenges and most of them are from NAHCON”. The caterer selected to provide meals for the State’s pilgrims was using his own discretion to select a menu that was not favourable to the people of the South West.
The pilgrims almost protested at Mina and many of them rejected the meals served and chose to go and buy food from vendors. Even the accommodation provided for Lagos pilgrims in Makkah was not up to standard.”
He said despite these challenges, he disagrees with the call for the scrapping of NAHCON, saying, “you can’t throw away the baby with the bath water”
The Amirul Hajj maintained that NAHCON has agreed that there were challenges this year, as he called on stakeholders to address them ahead of the 2025 Hajj.
He expressed his appreciation to Lagos State pilgrims for their patience and endurances, as he also appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support, especially in the area of providing the shortfall of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to the pilgrims and also offsetting the cost of Rams, amongst other kind gestures.
No fewer than 926 out of a total number of 1,869 pilgrims that participated in the 2024 Hajj from the State have so far been airlifted back home.