The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has expressed disappointment over flagrant disregard of its directive on allocation of hajj slots to pilgrims on Hajj Savings Scheme HSS.

NAHCON categorically worried over the attitude of states like Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja who were said to have denied the HSS enrollees in their states, the right to embark on the spiritual exercise.

A statement by Deputy Director, Information and Publicity at NAHCON, Mousa Ubandawaki, accused the three states and the FCT of a deliberate attempt to undermine the Commission’s policy and frustrate the intended pilgrims who had duly registered and met all requirements.

Although the accused states and FCT in their defense, attributed the refusal to capture HSS enrollees to failure of NAHCON and Jaiz Bank to timely remit the funds to their accounts, the Hajj Commission insisted the excuse was false.

According to NAHCON: “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 in advance of this year’s Hajj. This was even before many state pilgrim boards remitted their payment.

“Secondly, in our numerous consultations with the officials of the States Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions, it was resolved that the allocation to pilgrims should be in the ratio of 60/40 percent to pilgrims under State Boards and the Hajj Savings Scheme subscribers.

“So, it is expected that the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board should have reserved 40 per cent which is 2000 of the allocation to the HSS. Even at this, only 108 of the 2000 expectedly enrolled through the HSS in Kaduna State out of the total 6,255 allocated to them.”

The statement further noted: “What is playing out lately is that some states have been doing everything to consistently undermine the commission and the HSS Scheme in many ways.

“While the Commission has continued to show patience and understanding with the states, obvious for the fact that a new scheme or policy takes time before it bears positive fruits, unfortunately, this is not the case with some states who have continuously strove to defame and blackmail the Commission in their contempt for the board and some of its policies.

“Therefore, we want to emphasize that the information disseminated by the Kaduna State Pilgrims Board and some others is not only false but also malicious intended to vilify and blackmail the commission with a view to damage its integrity.”

NAHCON vowed to investigate the entire abnormalities with the view to bring to justice those who are bent on undermining its policies thereby denying the lawful rights of the HSS pilgrims to participate in the religious rites of Hajj.

The Commission therefore urged the affected intending pilgrims in Kaduna, Jigawa and Gombe States as well as the FCT to remain calm while the situation was being handled appropriately.