WRISTBAND: GROUP CLEARS NAHCON CHAIRMAN OF WRONGDOING

Speaking at press conference, President of the group, Mr. Dominic Ogakwu Jnr., described the allegations as nothing but an attempt to tarnish the good reputation of the NAHCON boss.

Making clarification on purchase of electronic wrist band for pilgrims and other issues, he said the use of wristband was aimed at addressing the challenges experienced during the 2015 Hajj Muna stampede in Saudi Arabia and that the use of electronic wristbands by all intending Hajj Pilgrims in 2016 was agreed upon by all stake holders and the management of the commission for 2016 Hajj operations.

‘’Our detailed investigation reveals that neither the Chairman of NAHCON nor any management staff has any link with the four companies awarded the contract for the supply of the e-wristbands.

Furthermore, our findings revealed that the wristbands are been given to pilgrims at the sum of N8,400 as against the N25,000 alleged.

“Our discovery also reveals that whereas the Saudi Arabia version is only a means of identifying all pilgrims without specific details to help salvage unforeseen circumstance, the NAHCON version is modelled with GPRS innovation to help in times of emergency with statistics of the pilgrim and also double as a tracking and communication device’’, he said.

He explained that the commission under the amiable leadership of Alh. Abdullahi Muktar Mohammed, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, made a refund of Seven Billion, One Million (N7,100,000,000) to pilgrims of 2015 Hajj for services that were either not adequately rendered or not rendered at all.

“This however became the first time such a huge amount was refunded and that services not rendered were meticulously scrutinized and appropriate refunds made’’, he said.

He explained that the allegations of corruptions and lop-sidedness in awards of contracts against the executive Chairman of Hajj Commission is a figment of the imaginations of some few individuals who are prepared to carry out mischief and rubbish the good work of the executive chairman.

“That their lack of courage to author their allegations as demonstrated either in the different publications in the social media or the media platforms is a show of cowardice and lack of integrity against the impeccable administrative credentials of the executive chairman and his team at NAHCON.

“Let it be on record, that those orchestrating this blackmail are toeing the dishonorable path of playing politics with human lives and whether now or the near future, posterity will catch up with them’’, he said.