Hajj 2018: NAHCON task on reform

Stakeholders in hajj and umrah services have urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to carry all stakeholders along in the wave of reforms in Hajj operations to sustain and improve on the successes recorded so far. They made the call yesterday in Abuja at the 24th National, states, local governments and other Hajj […]

Stakeholders in hajj and umrah services have urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to carry all stakeholders along in the wave of reforms in Hajj operations to sustain and improve on the successes recorded so far.

They made the call yesterday in Abuja at the 24th National, states, local governments and other Hajj stakeholders’ conference themed: “Appraisal of 2017 Hajj Operations for Consolidation and Efficiency” organised by the ITEC Consultancy Services.

Speaking on “Appraisal of the activities of Hajj Service Providers for More Effective Service Delivery” the Director, Baynakum Family Counseling Centre, Abuja Dr. Abdulfattah Adeyemi, said the success of hajj exercise in Nigeria was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders which must be sustained and improved upon.

According to him, the ongoing reform of the operation by NAHCON has yielded positive results especially in the 2017 hajj and that the stakeholders must be involved to sustain the gains.

“It is hoped that the NAHCON will move close to Hajj service providers to hear from them, what and what their experiences were in the last operation. This will make room for modifications, improvements and adjustments in the reforms wherever necessary. Consultation is the key, and carrying the stakeholders along will give room for more cooperation and success in forth coming Hajj season,” Adeyemi said.

The Director of ITEC Mallam Abdulwakeel Ademola Abdulwahab said that the reform in the sector by NAHCON should be carried out with human face so that stakeholders and pilgrims would not see it as dictatorial.

According to him one of the major issues that impaired the last operation was the high Hajj fare, which was increased by almost 50 percent compared to the preceding year and urged NAHOCN and other stakeholders see where and what to address and adjust so that the 2018exercise can be reduced by 50 percent or more.

“To achieve this, Muslims leaders, from the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar to other influential royal fathers, NSCIA and others have to press on the Federal Government to give a concession rate of foreign exchange for all hajj activities,” he said.

The National President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Mallam Jameel Muhammad said while the 50 percent pilgrims airlift is a global policy not peculiar to Nigeria, some countries were able to renegotiate this to their advantage.

He also said that government cannot totally hands-off hajj operation since the regulatory body (NAHCOM) is a government agency.