The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is engulfed in a fresh scandal involving over ₦1.64 billion spent on 399 spouses of its staff for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. This massive expenditure has ignited public outrage, especially as these funds were seemingly used for a religious obligation.

A key point of contention is the pricing disparity: a Hajj seat for staff spouses was sold at 4.57 million, while ordinary pilgrims were charged a hefty 8.7 million. This stark difference, combined with the inflated number of spouses, has fueled suspicions of slot selling.

NAHCON's policy dictates that each staff member on Hajj operations can sponsor one spouse, with top management allowed two. By this rule, a maximum of 294 spouses should have been sponsored, yet official documents show 399, with many names not matching staff members.

The spouse package, intended to support staff spending extended periods in Saudi Arabia, offers a discounted rate by excluding Makkah accommodation, feeding, and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA). Staff are expected to cover these costs from their allowances.

Investigations reveal a significant deviation from past policies. From 2006 to 2020, "spouse" was strictly defined, limiting slots to a staff member's wife and children. Executive members received minimal additional slots, ensuring adherence to the policy's spirit.

However, during the 2020-2023 tenure of Mr. Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, the policy was "bastardized." Relatives and friends were permitted as "spouses," enabling staff to sell these incomplete packages, leaving many unsuspecting individuals stranded without accommodation or BTA in Makkah.

Under the current board (2024-2025) led by Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, there's a complete lack of clear policy, leading to a "free-for-all." Staff at different levels received multiple slots, which sources allege were indiscriminately sold.

A cost analysis suggests that many officers could not genuinely afford to sponsor multiple spouses given their estacode entitlements, raising serious questions about how they managed expenses for additional "spouses" during the 30-day pilgrimage. Some directors reportedly incurred deficits exceeding their allowances.

This alarming situation has led to calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a forensic audit of NAHCON's accounts. Insiders are pushing for investigations into the abuse of the spouse slot policy, urging accountability for those involved in these fraudulent activities.

Source: https://saharareporters.com/2025/06/20/exclusive-nigerian-hajj-commission-nahcon-blows-over-n164billion-399-spouses-2025