A leading pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change (KMC) has praised the lawmaker representing Baruten-Kaiama federal constituency, Hon. Bio Umar, for initiating a motion that led to the ongoing reforms in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
In a statement Wednesday by its convener, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said the ongoing reform at NAHCON is a sign that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu do not condone corruption.
Hamzat recalled that Hon. Bio initiated a motion at the House of Representatives in July, which led the House to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate NAHCON over the conduct of the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.
The resolution of the house followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Urgent need to investigate the National Hajj Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their agents and sub-agents over shoddy arrangement and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj exercise.”
Hamzat noted that Hon. Bio’s petition led to investigation by various anti graft agencies including Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which uncovered a multi-million-dollar fraud allegedly perpetrated by top officials of NAHCON.
“Hon. Bio’s effort in championing, cleaning and sanitising the hajj commission has led to investigation of suspects, detention and other reforms in the commission which is yielding positive results and the group expects this reform to improve management of hajj operations in the future,” the group said.
