Hajj Commission Chair: who the cap fits

Hey! I saw your name among the recipients of National Merit award. He couldn’t believe what the caller was relaying or neither did he comprehend the messages wholly. The caller repeats “I mean President Umar Musa Yar’adua has nominated you as a recipient of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) for your exemplary […]

Hey! I saw your name among the recipients of National Merit award. He couldn’t believe what the caller was relaying or neither did he comprehend the messages wholly. The caller repeats “I mean President Umar Musa Yar’adua has nominated you as a recipient of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) for your exemplary services to pilgrims. The receiver of this call stays akimbo wondering whether it was a case of mistaken or duplicate identity but alas, it is real. His unmatched administrative skills and organizational ability has earned him a National Honour in a rare field of Hajj administration. That young man is Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammed, MON, the recently appointed Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. A former Special Assistant to the then Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board,  a one-time Director of Operation, a former Executive Secretary of Kaduna state Muslim pilgrims board for nine  years and, until the latest appointment, the Permanent Commissioner in charge of Operation in NAHCON. 
The above scenario illustrates the saying that “some people are born great, some have greatness thrust upon their lap, while others simply work their way to greatness.” However, the man like every human is by not perfect. The impact of his achievements in hajj operation cannot be gauged properly unless it is subject to comparative analysis of ‘what was obtained before and what it is thereafter.
 To do that, let’s look at his achievements as Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Pioneered securing of standard accommodation for Kaduna State pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, pioneered screening of all intending pilgrims; introduced wearing of uniforms by pilgrims; pioneered the weighing of pilgrims in Makkah; pioneered bi-weekly enlightenment of pilgrims at all registration centres; pioneered the collection of Hajj fares through bank drafts at designated centres. He also pioneered the computerization of Hajj activities which ease processing and reduce corruption and manipulation; introduced separation of males and females accommodation at Makkah, Madinah and also during the stay at Muna and Arafat; Introduced medical screening of pilgrims at the Hajj camp before departure to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of collecting necessary medical data, Introduction of members of the judiciary among state hajj officials to deter and prosecute Hajj-related offences;
He also creates zonal offices to decentralize and have effective coordination; Introduction of release of BTA in instalments to the pilgrims which helped greatly in reducing theft, loss and destitution; introduced medical kits which contain items for personal use of each pilgrim to prevent the spread of any skin or blood related diseases; pioneered practical training on Hajj rituals and production of educational materials in form of books, cassettes and CD’s; pioneered the electronic system of registration for pilgrims.     He also introduced the standardization of medical screening for pilgrims in the State. He pioneered the conduct of a popular radio Hajj quiz programme (Kalubalenku Maniyyata ) aired live over FRCN Kaduna.  He championed the introduction of inspection, assessment, scoring and rating templates for all Hajj and Umrah service providers which brought uniformity and consistency in assessments, appraisals and grading of services and service providers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. 
Ibrahim Muhammed, Zaria, Kaduna State (Text messages)p58