ABUJA (CHATNEWSTV) — The reported hiring of Saudi Arabian service provider Ithraa Al Khair Company by the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) for the 2025 Hajj has sparked intense opposition from Nigerian tour operators.
Tour operators have raised concerns, recalling their previous complaints and petitions from 2022 to 2024, criticizing the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for selecting Ithraa Al Khair despite poor services in past years.
During the 2022 Hajj, the company was criticized for inadequate services, including poor accommodation, food shortages, and unsatisfactory sanitation. In 2023, nearly half of Nigeria’s 95,000 pilgrims were left stranded and without basic necessities like tents, food, water, and sanitation.
Muhammed A. Suleman, President of the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators Association of Nigeria (HUTUON), expressed skepticism about AHUON’s decision to continue working with Ithraa Al Khair. “We don’t understand why they would choose the same service provider they criticized and petitioned against for the past three years,” he said.
Suleman also pointed out that NAHCON had selected Rawaf Mina as an alternative service provider for Nigerian pilgrims, citing Ithraa’s failure in previous years. “How can we patronize the same company when NAHCON has directed otherwise?” he added.
In contrast, AHUON President Lateef Ekundayo defended the decision, claiming that the company’s smaller pilgrim load would result in improved services. “We selected Ithraa Al Khair hoping they would provide better service at an affordable rate with the lower number of pilgrims they now have,” Ekundayo said. He also acknowledged the poor service history but insisted that the decision was made based on the belief that fewer pilgrims would lead to better outcomes.
Suleman and other tour operators have vowed to work with NAHCON-approved service providers, citing past dissatisfaction and the importance of reliable services for Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj.
