Tour Operators affiliated with the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria (AHUON) have called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to cease its misleading statements regarding the Saudi 2025 Hajj calendar, which aim to depict AHUON as an obstacle to the preparations for the forthcoming Hajj.

In a statement issued by its national president, Alhaji Abdullateef Ekundayo Yusuf, the private Hajj organization emphasized that, contrary to NAHCON's assertions, AHUON has sent five letters to the Commission since the conclusion of Hajj 2024 in June, requesting the refund of accumulated caution deposits and other payments exceeding N15 billion owed to its members. However, it was only on September 24, 2024, that the Commission deemed it necessary to respond, and that response failed to adequately address their numerous legitimate demands.

Responding to specific claims made by NAHCON, Yusuf stated that the suggestion that open dialogue and ongoing collaboration are the optimal means to resolve the outstanding refund issues is inaccurate. He noted, "The Association sought a meeting with the Commission on June 23, 2024, at their Makkah office, but our request was declined. We had to wait until September 10, 2024, for them to invite us. How can NAHCON claim to be open to dialogue with the Association?"

Yusuf further criticized NAHCON for misleading the public regarding the Saudi 2025 Hajj calendar, asserting that this narrative aims to position AHUON as the entity hindering the preparations for the upcoming Hajj. He highlighted that Nigeria has a total allocation of 95,000 slots, of which Tour Operators are entitled to only 20,000.