Reps query Hajj commission over death of 44 pilgrims

The House of Representatives’ committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday queried the management of the National Hajj Commission over the death of 44 Nigerians during this year’s Hajj.
The Chairman of the committee, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje and other committee members expressed the concern during the budget defence by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in Abuja
Mrs Ukeje (PDP-Abia), who took exception to the high level of deaths recorded during the Hajj, said that the death of 44 pilgrims was worrisome.
She attributed it to the alleged dirty and unhygienic condition that Nigerian pilgrims, especially the women, went through during the last Hajj. The lawmaker directed the commission to forward a full report on the 2012 Hajj operations to the committee as soon as possible.
She said the report should include particular reference to where the Nigerian pilgrims encountered difficulties and the unprecedented death of 44 Nigerian pilgrims.
“I will expect a full report from you on this Hajj operation of 2012,’’ she said.
She, however, congratulated the commission for its success at the last Hajj, especially the handling of the issue of male guardian where sizeable numbers of Nigerian female pilgrims were returned to the country for lack of a mahram.
In his presentation, Mohammad Bello, the Chairman of the commission, said that the 2012 Hajj was smooth in spite of the initial hiccups.
“In spite of all the challenges, we have the full support of all those that are supposed to support, especially the air carriers.” He said that the quality of accommodation was “much higher than that of last year.’’
Mr Bello said unlike what was obtained in the past years; only one female pilgrim gave birth in the Holy Land compared to 30 in previous years and 15 in the 2011 Hajj.
He said the commission made a budget proposal of N724 million for the 2013 fiscal year.
Mr Bello said the N724 million was made up of N524.46 million for Recurrent and N200 million for Capital expenditure.