CHALLENGES OF HAJJ OPERATION IN
NIGERIA
By
Prof Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede
Vice Chancellor,
University of Ilorin.
Ilorin
A Key Note Address Presented at the Second National
Conference on Hajj Organized by WAFF Road Mosque
Forum (WRMF) Held at Arewa House Conference
Centre, Kaduna from 24-26 July 2009.
CHALLENGES OF HAJJ OPERATION IN NIGERIA
Preamble
It gives me a great pleasure to address this important gathering on an important pillar
of our religion, Hajj. It is however unfortunate that I cannot physically present this paper due
to numerous official assignments at home such as the Senate meeting holding on Thursday 23
July 2009 and a meeting with the officials of Federal Ministry of Education scheduled for
Friday 24 July 2009. I sincerely apologise for the absence and wish you a fruitful deliberation
at the conference.
Introduction
Hajj as we all know is a pillar in Islam. Its obligation is established on the authorities
of the Qur’an, Hadith and Ijmac. In the Qur’an Allah says:
Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah. Those who can afford the
journey: But if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures
(Qur’an 3:97).
In the Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said that:
Allah has made the observance of Hajj obligatory on you, so observe it.
(Related by Muslim)
There is unanimity of the Muslim Jurists on the obligation of Hajj at least once in a life time
of a qualified Muslim. As a religious duty it has rules that guide its observance.
We will in this address focus on the challenges facing Hajj operation in Nigeria and
recommend measures to ameliorate if not control them. To do this, the address is divided into
the four parts excluding the introduction and the conclusion. The first part discusses the
requirements of Hajj. In part two, Hajj operation in Nigeria is examined. Challenges facing
Hajj operation in Nigeria are dealt with in part three. The fourth part recommends a four
point agenda towards ensuring a hitch free Hajj operation in Nigeria.
Requirements of Hajj
For Hajj to be acceptable by Allah, certain requirements must be fulfilled. Some of
these requirements have been laid down in the Qur’an and others in the Hadith and yet a few
in the Ijmac. In the Qur’an for instance, the verse quoted at the beginning of this address
mentions capability-al- istita’ as a condition without which Hajj does not become obligatory
on a worshipper. The capability referred to in the verse according to leading exegetes means
provision for expenses covering the exercise on one hand and safety and security of the
pilgrims throughout the trip on the other. In another verse which appears to be a follow up to
(Qur’an 3:97), adequate provision is emphasized and piety (right conduct) is described as the
best of such provision. The verse reads thus:
And take a provision (with) you for the journey, but the best provision is
(piety) right conduct. So fear me o ye that are wise. (Qur’an 2:197).
The piety or right conduct implies the observance of the rules of Hajj solely for the
sake of Allah and according to its rules. When this is done, the Prophet (SAW) is reported to
have assured pilgrims with these qualifications of Allah’s forgiveness and admission into the
Paradise.
Muslim Jurists have also added maturity, physical and mental fitness as well as
freedom as other requirements of Hajj. Fulfillment of these requirements makes Hajj
obligatory on a Muslim and failure to perform it thereafter is a sinful act according to the
unanimity of the Muslim Jurists.
Hajj Operation in Nigeria
Hajj operation in Nigeria has a long history. There was evidence that prominent
Muslim leaders in the pre-colonial Kanem Borno, Hausa land and later the Sokoto Caliphate
observed the rites of Hajj and made adequate provisions for the welfare of pilgrims from their
domains in the holy land.
However, since independence till date what used to be a hitch free operation in the
pre-colonial times are now faced with several challenges. The operation has experienced
perennial hiccups which have had adverse effects on the observance of Hajj on one hand and
dented the image of the Nigerian nation on the other. To ensure a hitch free Hajj,
Commissions, Committees, Directorates and Boards were inaugurated both at the national
and state levels and saddled with this onerous task. Such Commissions, Committees,
Directorates and Boards have been backed up by enabling legislation to ensure legitimacy
and clearly define their mandates.
Despite these supports especially from the government, Hajj operation in Nigeria
apart from the 2008 Hajj which was adjudged the best in the recent times by President Umaru
Musa Yar’adua has been characterized by undue hardship and difficulties suffered by
Nigerian pilgrims. In fact, the sadness, anger and frustration caused by the failure of Hajj
operations in Nigeria cannot be quantified.
Inability of the various government agencies to achieve successful Hajj operations in
the country is caused by a number of challenges. Some of which will be discussed with a
view to finding lasting solutions to them and ensuring a hitch free Hajj operation.
Challenges of Hajj Operation in Nigeria.
A catalogue of challenges militating against smooth Hajj operations in Nigeria has
been identified. These challenges in our view can be broadly categorized as follows:
(i)
Spiritual
(ii)
Material
(iii) Health
(iv)
Planning/structure
Each of these challenges will be discussed below.
Spiritual Challenge
Absence of piety in virtually all stakeholders in Hajj operations has been generally
identified as a great challenge. The officials, carriers and even pilgrims have demonstrated
through their acts that piety has been thrown into the dustbin. They do not match their words
with actions and grossly demonstrate insincerity and dishonesty in the discharge of their
respective roles in Hajj operation. Most officials responsible for the spiritual growth of the
pilgrims popularly referred to as Hajj Guides for instance see their appointments as an avenue
to amass wealth and status symbol. Some of them abandon the pilgrims when they are needed
most both at home and in the holy land. They jettison the spiritual wellbeing of the pilgrims
and are hardly seen by pilgrims to guide them in the observance of the rites of Hajj. Indeed
the pilgrims are left to wander as strayed animals in the holy land. While the Hajj guides
engage in other frivolous activities other than duties statutorily assigned to them.
The pilgrims also commit spiritual blunders by their failure to observe the rites of Hajj
as prescribed but rather engage in worldly frivolities of making golden teeth, unrestricted
intermingling with members of the opposite sex. In fact some of them are reported to have
taken their concubines to the holy land under the guise of being their wives and perform all
forms of indecent acts while there. We also have it on a credible source that some pilgrims
from Nigeria go atop Mount cArafah on cArafah day to defecate having been having assured
by some unscrupulous ‘scholars’ that doing so will enrich or increase their wealth if they are
already rich.
Material Challenge
Crave for materialism is another challenge to Hajj operation in Nigeria. Like the
spiritual challenge, both the officials and pilgrims have a fair deal in this challenge. Some
officials for instance see their appointment to serve on Hajj committee as a means of material
growth. As such they grab as much as they could from the funds under their care. Some also
go to the extent of defrauding the pilgrims totally or partially. Totally, by collecting fares
from pilgrims and refusing to remit them to the appropriate agencies but provide them with
fake receipts and travelling documents, thus denying the intending pilgrims access to perform
Hajj. Partially, by providing registered pilgrims with sub standard facilities such as bags,
uniforms, accommodation and transportation both at home and in the holy land and short
change in the release of BTA to pilgrims in the Holy land. Such officials usually abscond in
the case of perpetrators of total defraud and deny access to complaining pilgrims in the case
of those who partially defraud the pilgrims. Some officials in the second category even had a
gut to abuse and even threaten to deal ruthlessly with pilgrims who dare complain.
Another manifestation of material challenge is the phenomenon of excess baggage.
This act is perpetrated by both the pilgrims and the officials who purchased both the useful
and useless goods under the guise of gifts to friends, families and relations on return from
Hajj. Through the connivance of officials, some pilgrims get the excess baggage cleared after
offering some material and other gratifications.
There are also challenges associated with the issuance of traveling documents like
passports, visa and yellow cards. The procurement of these materials has been marred with
corruption perpetrated by the officials and pilgrims alike. Cases of removal of pictures of
some pilgrims for others and production of fake travelling documents have been reported. A
prominent Islamic scholar of blessed memory of high spiritual standing confessed that highly
placed officials of the State at the Federal level insisted that he must go on Hajj in a year
even if it would involve removal of somebody else’s picture in a passport and replacing it
with his own. His uncompromising refusal of this gesture prevented the officials from
executing their impious act.
Health Challenge
To cater for the health needs of the pilgrims, medical corps consisting of medical and
paramedical personnel usually accompany pilgrims at the expense of the States or Nation. In
most cases these health personnel, hardly attend to the needs of the pilgrims under their care
but pay attention to the officials. In fact some of the ambulances meant for the conveyer of
the sick pilgrims are turned to hide outs for the officials who roam the streets of the holy land
in pursuant of their own needs at the expense of the purpose those vehicles are meant to
discharge.
Of equal importance are the unsanitary conditions in which pilgrims find themselves
right from the transit camp through their sojourn in the holy land. Our experiences in the
unsanitary conditions are gathered from what we saw at the various Hajj camps in Nigeria
and Nigerian Pilgrims’ tents and residences in the holy land. Because of the lack of, or
inadequate sanitation outbreak of diseases has claimed lives of innocent pilgrims.
Overcrowding of the abodes of pilgrims with inappropriate ventilation is another health
challenge faced over the years.
Structure or Planning as a Challenge
Planning as observed earlier constitutes one of the requirements of Hajj. However this
important requirement has either been ill-done or not done at all. Consequently, lack of or
inadequate planning has been the major bane of Hajj operation in Nigeria. In fact it is the
foundation of all the challenges discussed above. The ill planning is manifested in the
appointment of incompetent officials, allowance of unqualified pilgrims, approval of in
effective air lines to air lift pilgrims, exceeding the set limits or standards, consulate
problems, acquisition or procurement of travelling documents etc.
Quite a number of pilgrim officials lack the appropriate expertise to justify their
appointment. They have been chosen because of factors other than competence and expertise.
As such, they hardly provide expected expertise and competence in the discharge of their
duties.
Similarly, some pilgrims allowed to perform the Hajj are incompetent. Their
incompetence may be due to lack of inadequate provisions or religious zeal or other ulterior
motives other than spiritual. It is this group of pilgrims that commits all forms of atrocities
before and during Hajj. In fact some of them have seen Hajj as an escape route to stay in the
holy land as illegal immigrants.
Allowance of incompetent airlines to airlift the pilgrims in the past has caused delays
in the departure and arrival of the pilgrims to and fro the holy lands. As a result of the delay
caused by the incompetent airline operators, most pilgrims were forced to dispose their wares
at give away prices to be able to feed at the transit points. In fact, crime of theft of goods and
money is generally reported in those transit camps or points.
Exceeding the limits in terms of allocated numbers of pilgrims to the country and
arrival at and departure from the holy land was also a major challenge in the past. Through
these acts, most intending pilgrims could not perform the Hajj and had to return home
disappointedly.
All these challenges in our view are products of corruption perpetrated at a tripartite
level of officials of Hajj Commission, pilgrims and government agencies like the Customs,
Federal Ministry of Foreign affairs, immigration, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) etc. Any attempt at ensuring a hitch free Hajj operation must of necessity address
these sectors.
Towards a Hitch Free Hajj Operation in Nigeria.
In the realization of the effects of the above challenges to Hajj operations in Nigeria
and the need for a hitch free Hajj a number of measures have been taken by government and
stakeholders in Hajj administration in Nigeria. One of such measures is the repeal of the
Nigerian Pilgrims Commission Act of 1999 and its replacement by the National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Act of 2006. The repeal and replacement led to
dissolution of Nigerian Pilgrims Commission and constitution of the National Hajj
Commission of Nigeria which is charged with the responsibility of licensing, regulating,
performing oversight and undertaking supervisory functions over agencies and other bodies.
The establishment of the Commission was a demonstration of government’s determination to
reform pilgrimage administration in Nigeria in order to enhance and safeguard the welfare of
the pilgrims by eliminating undue hardship and difficulties experienced by the pilgrims while
performing their religious obligations.
NAHCON Chairman, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has used every available
opportunity to intimate stakeholders and major players, of the need to reform the conduct of
the exercise and inject new ideas towards ensuring a successful Hajj operation especially as it
affects choice of airlines, tour operators, visa arrangements, departure arrangements, and
accommodations in the holy land and the general conduct of Nigerian pilgrims during the
exercise.
To attain these objectives, a number of steps were taken by the Commission to
address these naughty areas. For example, the Commission wants all the Hajj affairs
management authorities namely State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies and other major
stakeholders to act timely on key Hajj operational activities such as securing good houses for
the pilgrims which conform to the Saudi accommodation standards as well as ensure that
allocation of such houses to the pilgrims are made strictly based on flight schedule for
smooth Hajj operation. The need also for effective and efficient communication at all levels
and among the various stakeholders and to ensure strict compliance to airlift contractual
provisions regarding the rights and obligations of the parties involved cannot be over
emphasized.
There is no doubt that efforts of NAHCON for the first time yielded fruition by
successfully carrying out 2008 Hajj operation with meagre problems in comparison with the
operations in the past as we already observed.
Though NAHCON achievement was not total as earlier observed there are still areas
that need to be properly monitored to consolidate the gains of the past and ensure a hitch free
Hajj operation in the future. These areas are presented in a four point agenda as follows:
One, opinion upheld in some quarters that membership of NAHCON should be
dissolved because it has not totally succeeded in our view is hasty. We therefore recommend
that the Commission be given a five year appraisal period from the time of its constitution to
be able to determine whether it has actually performed or failed in its statutory functions.
Within this time frame, the Commission would be able to know its strength and pursue it and
identify its failure and make amends. The period will also provide objectives observers
opportunities to suggest measures aimed at ensuring hitch free Hajj operation to the
Commission. The suggestions when received by the Commission should be carefully studied
with a view to implementing the beneficial aspect.
Two, the Hajj commission should step out of the Box. By this, the Commission
should borrow a leaf from success stories of Hajj operations in some Muslim countries and
integrate them into Pilgrimage administration in Nigeria.
Three, Federal Government of Nigeria should as a matter of necessity provide
appropriate logistics to facilitate smooth Hajj operation as the yearly exercise involves a
sizeable number of the nation’s population. Undue influence on the choice of flight operator
should stop. NAHCON should be independent in the choice of flight operators and those
chosen should be liable for their conduct summarily.
Four, there is need for radical shift from the attitude of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah
in the sources of Hajj fund. A good number of Nigerians have in the past relied on
government or private sponsorship to the holy land to perform Hajj rites. This in our opinion
is faulty because individual pilgrims should be responsible for the entire cost of the trip and
not rely on anybody’s benevolence which in most cases do not cater for the entire needs of
journey. The insufficient funds arising from such sponsorship have often led the sponsored
pilgrims to engage in irreligious acts some of which have been mentioned.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Hajj operation in Nigeria has existed since the pre-colonial
days and recorded tremendous successes. Since the nation’s independence, and subsequent
involvement of the State in Hajj operations, serious challenges which have hampered a hitch
free Hajj have been experienced and remained perennial. In fact the challenges have mostly
defied solutions.
The establishment of NAHCON and determination of its members in surmounting the
hercullian tasks of Hajj operations in Nigeria recorded appreciable success in the 2008 Hajj
though not total. To ensure a hitch free Hajj in the country a four (4) point agenda is offered
for consideration and subsequent implementations by the stake holders in Hajj operations in
Nigeria. Through careful implementation of these recommendations, the spiritual reward of
Hajj echoed in the following Hadith will be got by all the stakeholders who in most cases
qualify as pilgrims because they also observe Hajj rites
Whoever performs Hajj without illicit sexual conduct, observance of
vices and unnecessary disputations would return as sinless as the day
he was delivered by his mother.
I thank you for your attention.
References
Ali A.Y, The Holy Qur’an: English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary, King
Fahd Holy Qur’an Printing Complex, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, n.d
Ismail M.B, Al-Fiqhu’l Wadih, Vol.1, Daru’l Mannar, Cairo, 1997.
“Moving to Sanitize Hajj Operations”- Available at http://www.leadershipnyou.com.
Accessed on Tuesday 21 July, 2009
Nigeria Pilgrims Commission Act Cap. 321, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) (Establishment) Act 2006.
Sambo Pamela ”Nigeria: NTDC Partners Hajj Commission on Hajj Operation” Available at
http://allafrica.com accessed on Tuesday 21 July 2009.
Yusha’u Muhammad J,“Salvaging Hajj Operations in Nigeria: The Samanja Approach”
available at http://www.amanaonline.com accessed on Tuesday, 21 July, 2009.