The Association of Haji and Umrah Operators of Nigeria, AHUON, has appealed to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCO, to clear the outstanding refunds of Tour Operators before embarking on licence bidding for 2025 Haji .
AHUON said its appeal has become necessary as some of its members have not been paid their 2023 caution deposits of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) uptill today, among other pending unresolved issues.
It urged the Commission to set aside at least 2 weeks to start the processes of refunding Tour Operators including the 2024 , N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) caution deposit immediately.
Their demands followed an advertorial titled: APPLICATION FOR 2025 HAJJ LICENCE AND SLOT ALLOCATION FOR TRAVEL AGENCIES placed on a national daily by the Commission on Saturday 24th of August 2024.
National President, Association of Haji and Umrah Operators of Nigeria, Abdul Lafeet Ekundayo Yusuf said that the invite for application could have been a cause for celebrations from Tour Operators, because for the first time, the commission is kick starting the Hajj processes early enough.
However, while we appreciate the zeal of the Commission to open a new book for the 2025 Hajj operation on time, we feel it is important to draw its attention to the fact that the book of the 2024 Hajj has not been properly closed as far as Tour Operators are concern.
Therefore our expectation was that the Commission will address all pending issues relating to the 2024 operations before the invitation to bid for the 2025 Hajj license.
OUTSTANDING REFUNDS OF CAUTION DEPOSITS.
Firstly, in the build up to 2024 Hajj, the Commission promised that unlike previous years, it will refund all caution deposits immediately after Hajj. In fact, a three weeks timeline was given by the management of the Commission. It is therefore, strange to us that the commission will place a public notice for a new bid while the pending issues have not been concluded.
For your information Sir, there are some of our members that have not been paid their 2023 caution deposits of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira Only) uptill today. We therefore, call on the Commission to set aside at least 2 weeks to start the processes of refunding Tour Operators including the N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira) caution deposit immediately.
Secondly, Sir, our members have reportedly complained about several amounts of monies been trapped with the Commission’s finance department dating back many years despite several demands. In fact, we tabled these requests with Commission severally and once agreed that a list of such outstanding refund will be published by the Commission and invite the agencies to come forward for their refunds. It is our opinion that, there is no better time than now. We want to start on a clean sheet with the Commission. We demand payment of all genuine claims owed our members by the Commission before the call for another round of bidding.
REFUND OF SERVICES NOT RENDERED BY THE MU’ASSASAH.
Thirdly, immediately we returned from Hajj, precisely on the 16th of July, 2024, we wrote the Commission demanding the payment for 2022 and 2023 refunds for services not rendered to our members paid by Ithra Alkhair through the Commission. As we speak, the Commission has not taken any action in that regard, and we are aware the Mu’assasah has also approved the refund for the 2024 tent A service failure.
REFUND OF DEVELOPMENT LEVY
Fourthly, on the 24th of July, 2024, we wrote a letter of reminder for the payment of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira Only) being 20% of the Association’s share from the 2023 development levy as agreed and graciously approved by the last management. We have written countless letters of which no response was received from the Commission on that legitimate demand.
For the record sir, this position was agreed upon because of our insistence that our members and pilgrims alike do not and have never benefited from the projects associated with the funds being raised through the development levy.
DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING UMRAH VISAS
Fifthly, and equally important is our letter of 15th of August, 2024, where we drew the attention of the Commission to the difficulties being faced by our members concerning Umrah visas and the associated losses being incured on a daily basis as a result of the Saudi quarter system on Nigeria.
To our dismay, and like the other letters nothing has been heard from the Commission. Not even an acknowledgement of our letter. As the regulator and issuer of the umrah licences, we expect the Commission to swing into action immediately to protect its licensees. Why would the Commission placed more importance on earning revenue through Hajj and Umrah licensing than concern about the fate of those it licenced.
INCREASE IN CAUTION DEPOSIT
Finally, we notice the increase in the caution deposit this year to N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira Only) by the Commission. Needless to mention, we always recognize the statutory right of the Commission to exercise its regulatory powers in ensuring optimum performance of the Hajj operations. However, we wish to remind the Commission that Hajj management requires consultation, discourse and the input of critical stakeholders which we believe to represent. During the last increase to N25,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira Only) we were carried along and we are proud of the role we played in ensuring the success of the policy implimentation.
Sir, as usual we will like to appreciate the Commission as well as express our unflinching support and desire to always work with it to achieve better performance in the Hajj and Umrah management for the Nigerian Pilgrims.
May Allah continue to guide us, AHUON stated.