By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commended the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the Edo State Amirul Hajj, HRH Mallam Ali D. Suleyman, the Oghieaga of Ivbie, for the effective coordination and constructive engagement demonstrated during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
The commendation came during a visit by a NAHCON delegation to Edo pilgrims in Mina, where the delegation met with the Amirul Hajj alongside the Chairman of Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mallam Musa Muhammad Uduimoh, and the Executive Secretary, Alhaji Eranga Abdulkabir Muhammadkabir.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Abba Yusuf, who was represented by the Commissioner for Policy, Personnel and Finance, Prince Aliu Abdulrazak, praised Edo State for its mature and constructive approach in addressing challenges encountered during the pilgrimage.
According to him, rather than resorting to protests or unnecessary confrontations, Edo officials adopted dialogue and constructive engagement by escalating issues appropriately to NAHCON for prompt intervention.
He said, "We want to sincerely thank the Chairman of Edo State Pilgrims Welfare Board for his relentless effort in ensuring that Edo State pilgrims are properly coordinated,”
“The Governor of Edo State again selected an Amirul Hajj who is very experienced in Hajj activities, and looking at those things put together, we are not expecting anything less. We can even go and sleep believing that Edo State pilgrims are in safe hands.”
Prince Abdulrazak further commended the Amirul Hajj, the board chairman, and the executive secretary for maintaining constant communication with NAHCON despite the challenges experienced in some areas of the pilgrimage operations.
He disclosed that he had personally visited Edo pilgrims in Madinah on the directive of the NAHCON chairman following complaints about accommodation, assuring the pilgrims that efforts were ongoing to improve the situation.
“We understand the problems that have occurred. We are not going to sleep or assume as if nothing has happened. We are not happy as well,” he stated.
Prince Abdulrazak further assured the pilgrims that NAHCON would renegotiate with service providers over unsatisfactory services rendered to pilgrims during the Hajj exercise.
According to him, any service paid for but not satisfactorily delivered to pilgrims would attract refunds after proper assessment and renegotiation with the affected service providers.
He explained that similar challenges were also being experienced by pilgrims from other states including Sokoto, Zamfara and Plateau, stressing that NAHCON was making efforts to provide basic amenities and improve pilgrims’ welfare.
Also speaking, the South-East Commissioner of NAHCON, Hajia Aishat Obi, applauded Edo State officials and pilgrims for their constructive criticism and responsible engagement with the commission.
Responding on behalf of Edo pilgrims, the Amirul Hajj, HRH Mallam Ali D. Suleyman, appreciated NAHCON for acknowledging the challenges while emphasizing the need for accountability and improved performance.
“But the fact that they have already acknowledged these challenges, it is not for us to blackmail them. Leave that to Allah. Anybody who does not do his or her duty after collecting money for it should remember that Allah will ask questions in the hereafter,” he said.
The royal father, however, expressed disappointment over what he described as a decline in this year’s Hajj operations compared to last year, adding that he is not happy that the leadership of NAHCON has been changed twice within just two years, which he said does not speak good of us as Muslis.
“This year’s performance is below average because last year you people did very well and we commended you, hoping that this year there would be improvement,” he noted.
He added that while some efforts had been made by NAHCON to ameliorate the situation, many of the issues encountered were beyond the control of Edo State authorities.
“They are not within what Edo State Pilgrims Welfare Board can handle. They are for NAHCON,” he stated.
The Amirul Hajj assured pilgrims that he would present a detailed report of the situation to the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, whom he described as deeply concerned about the welfare of Edo pilgrims.
“When the governor heard some of the reports, he called me on Tuesday and I told him it was not as bad as reported. As soon as we leave here, I am going to submit a report because I owe that duty to the pilgrims and to the governor who is concerned about their welfare,” he added.
He expressed optimism that the challenges experienced during this year’s pilgrimage would be addressed ahead of future Hajj operations.
Other Edo pilgrims who spoke during the engagement, including Luqman Abdulqadir and Abubakar, also appreciated the efforts of the Edo State delegation while calling NAHCON for further improvements in pilgrims’ welfare and logistics.
