By Jabiru Hassan
A civil society organisation, , has called for the establishment of a special committee to oversee the payment and implementation of Hadaya (animal sacrifice) for Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj.
The group said the move is necessary to prevent a recurrence of alleged irregularities recorded during the 2025 pilgrimage.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, , the organisation noted that the conduct of Hadaya has remained a contentious issue, often affected by lack of transparency and accountability.
According to the group, the arrangement allowing to facilitate Hadaya payments through a platform approved by the Islamic Development Bank has not fully addressed the challenges, as many pilgrims still prefer to make payments through state pilgrims welfare boards.
The group alleged that while some states maintain transparency in handling the process, others divert funds meant for Hady, thereby denying pilgrims the opportunity to fulfil a key religious obligation.
It also called for uniformity in the charges for Hadaya across all states, noting that disparities currently exist despite the adoption of uniform Hajj fares based on flight zones.
IHR further observed that although the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has integrated Hadaya into the Hajj payment system, Nigeria has yet to fully comply, leaving room for states to independently manage the process.
The organisation urged the to establish a dedicated committee to regulate the process as part of efforts to strengthen oversight and accountability in the Hajj sector.
