Dr. Tanko Aliyu (left); Kaduna State Pilgrims Board Executive Secretary, Yusu Arrigasiyyu; Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan; and Head of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Hardawa at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia… last Monday
The successful conclusion of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi Arabia last Monday (three days ahead of August 3, 2023 plan) has become another testimony of outstanding performance of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in the discharge of its mandate of coordinating hajj operation for Nigerians. Similar record was achieved during the out-bound journey that commenced on May 25, 2023 and completed on June 23, 2023.
The highly elated Chairman/ CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan in appreciation of the feat commendedNigerians for their tremendous support for the Commission during the Hajji operation.At a mini ceremony at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to mark the end of the operation shortly before the tak-off of the last batch flight to Nigeria last Monday, Alhaji Hassan acknowledged the assistance of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima to the successful organization of the 2023 Hajj stressing the intervention of the Vice President which enabled the Commission to transfer its trapped funds to Saudi Arabia and also persuade the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA) to allocate more slots to our Nigerian Airlines.
“I want to sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Nigerian Government, especially, the President and Vice President for their timely intervention and support all through this operations. Their invaluable support really contributed in no mean term to achieve today’s success story,” he said.
The flight had on board 298 Kaduna pilgrims, one Bauchi State Pilgrim and 16 officials by Azman Airlines arrived in Nigeria four days ahead of the original date.
In a statement by the Deputy Director, Information & Publications, NAHCON, Mousa Ubandawaki, the second phase of the operation which began on July 4, 2023 after the completion of the Hajj rites with the airlift of Sokoto State Pilgrims by Flynas was a rollercoaster of challenges and emotions which was amplified by the non-provision of slots to the Nigerian Carriers by the Saudi’s General Authority onCivil Aviation (GACA).
But after the resolution of the impasse following the intervention of the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the in-bound operation became smooth-sailing.Initially, August 3, 2023 fixed as the final day of operation, but the injection of additional aircraft by Max Air and Flynas helped to ease the tension and increase the tempo of the operation and gaining four days.
Indeed, the 2023 hajj stood out especially in the area of airlifting and procurement of top rated accommodation for pilgrims in the second holiest city in the Kingdom, Madinah. as
For the first time in a long while, the Commission was able to ferry all the 95,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in record time. For years, before the outbreak of COVID-19, it had been a very difficult and herculean task to achieve this, but this year, the mission was accomplished.
Also, the services provided to the Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah were those that can, at best, be found in first rate tourist destination hubs anywhere in the world. They were accommodated in the exclusive Markazziyah quarters of the second Holiest City, where state pilgrims irrespective of status were lodged. It is the highbrow area of the City where pilgrims only had to come down from their hotel rooms into the prayer area of the Masjid Al-Nabawi.
History was also made this year as over 98 per cent of the pilgrims of the state pilgrims welfare boards were able to visit Madinah (before the date of staying on the plain of Arafat- June 27, 2023). This had been described as a no mean feat never before achieved since the establishment of the Commission in 2007.
Infact, certain challenges as regard outbound airlift encountered by the pilgrims who enlisted the services of the Private Tour Operators were promptly resolved by the Commision displaying the character of an agency that cares and sees the wellbeing of all pilgrimsirrespective of their category as an obligation.
This loving disposition of the Commission was appreciated by an AHOUN chieftain as he reckoned that the regulatory agency only involved in the airlift of pilgrims by private tour operators in a rescue effort when it became glaring that the majority of their 10,000 pilgrims might not eventually make it if they were left to wait on the contracted Arik Air mandated to airlift them.
The tent crisis at Muna which attracted global attention, which, although, not peculiar to Nigeria also brought out the ingenuity in the NAHCON leadership. The NAHCON hea-d, at a press briefing on July 2 in Makkah did not only express his displeasure over the state of facilities in Muna, but also follow up with a formal complaint which culminated in the emergency allocation of additional 10,000 tents as accommodation for Nigerians.
The Commission was also well ahead to secure restitution or compensation for services not provided while the Company of Muttawwif of African Non -Arab had to tender an unreserved apology to the country. The Commission’s daring steps might have forced other Hajj Missions around the world to follow suit.
Contrary to misinformation spread through unfounded media report over the huge amount paid by pilgrims which equally attracts increase year in year out, it should be stated that Hajj fare is for services rendered to pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which include the cost of air ticket, feeding, transportation and other services and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).
It also needs to be emphasized that the Commission is not oblivious to the fact that the Hajj should not only serve as religious rejuvenation but also an avenue to make economic benefit through the exportation of goods and services.
This was the reason the Commission, at a meeting with the Islamic Development Bank, IDB, in Jeddah expressed the need to explore the economic benefits of Hajj where it canvassed for the importation of livestock from Nigeria for Hadaya. This was with a view to earning foreign exchange for the country.
In the same manner, the Commission in signing the feeding agreement inserted and insisted on partnership with Nigerian companies which will guarantee the employment of Nigerian chefs in the preparation of food for our pilgrims. Also at the July 2 briefing in Makkah, one of the major requests was the need for Saudi authorities to hand off the feeding of Nigerian pilgrims. It is hoped that all these suggestions will be firmed up as registration for Hajj 2024 begins on September 16, 2023.
Another point to highlight is the fact that since the inception of the present board of the Commission, a lot of efforts have been made to ensure stability in Hajj fare with the institution of the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS).
The scheme which is still at infancy is expected to be the long-term solution to the Hajj fare increase. The HSS is a contributory payment scheme that allows intending pilgrims to register and deposit money for the sole purpose of performing Hajj.
Apart from giving participants the opportunity to perform Hajj without government patronage, dependence on rich families or relations, or disposing of their hard-earned properties, it also enables the Commission to make long-term commitments to service providers who would not have to charge for service at current or prevailing rates. Moreover, it would enable the commission to plan well ahead of time and remove the bottleneck associated with obtaining flight slots/schedules and other logistics.
From today’s semon and in the next few weeks, lens will be zoomed, as an introspection, on 2023 Hajj with a view to spotlight some of the challenges and propose probable solutions.
Source: Guardian
