Tour Operators Withdraw from 2025 Hajj, Allege Mismanagement and Favoritism by NAHCON

Maryam Aminu

Three licensed Hajj tour operators Travel Express Ltd, An-Noor Air Services and Tours Ltd, and Positive Trends Travel and Tours Ltd have announced their withdrawal from participation in the 2025 Hajj exercise, citing alleged irregularities, mismanagement, and unethical practices by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a detailed statement released by the signatories Usman A. Ambursa, Haruna Isma’il, and Ikrimah Muhammad the operators accused NAHCON of engaging in “Machiavellian” tactics, sidelining private tour operators, and promoting vested interests at the expense of Nigerian pilgrims.

“Our decision to withdraw was driven by our commitment to a clean, transparent, and pilgrim-focused Hajj operation,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, NAHCON’s current approach appears to prioritize personal and political interests over service delivery and accountability.”

The conflict reportedly began after the 2024 Hajj, during which the operators claim to have secured a favorable agreement with long-standing Saudi service provider, Ithra’a Al Joud. The company had allegedly provided exceptional services to Nigerian pilgrims under the supervision of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON).

Encouraged by Ithra’a’s transparency, refund compliance, and competitive pricing, the three tour operators submitted a contract proposal to NAHCON for the 2025 Hajj. The contract was signed by the NAHCON Chairman in January but was later undermined, according to the operators.

“Just two days after the contract was signed, the Chairman asked us to remove the Tent A VIP service segment, citing that NAHCON had already allocated it to another service provider, Rawaf Mina,” the group claimed.

The operators insist that NAHCON’s direct involvement in marketing premium services to VIPs and state governments traditionally the purview of private tour companies represents a breach of role and unfair competition.

They further allege that NAHCON pressured other tour operators to switch to Rawaf Mina by delaying procurement approvals for Ithra’a and blocking access to essential platforms, such as the visa processing portal

“Despite Ithra’a offering a more favorable package reducing its Tent D+ economy price to 3,490 Saudi Riyals NAHCON refused to formally release this offer to the public,” the operators said. “Instead, they used their influence to discredit Ithra’a and intimidate tour operators.”

As a result, only one lead company reportedly stood by Ithra’a, but was subsequently denied access to camp bookings and an independent IBAN account allegedly in retaliation.

The three signatories say they too were denied the opportunity to select a lead company for this year’s Hajj because of their insistence on transparency and choice.

The tour operators say their withdrawal is not an act of protest but a stand for reform.

“Our goal remains simple: to ensure a Hajj operation that puts the pilgrim first, free from exploitation, and committed to service quality,” they said.

They promised to release a follow-up statement to expose the financial breakdown of Hajj packages and the alleged misuse of pilgrims’ funds to “finance the jamboree of NAHCON officials and cronies.”