THE Managing Director of Hajj Mabrur, a hajj and umrah firm, Alhaji Abdul Hameed Solate, has expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia’s new policy on Hajj 2024 will sanitise the hajj industry and reduce fraudulent activities perpetrated by unregistered private operators.
Alhaji Solate expressed this confidence in an interview with an Islamic newspaper, Muslim News, charging intending pilgrims to patronise either licensed private operators or those in collaboration with them.
Saudi Arabia’s ministry of hajj has approved 40 licensed private tour operators from Nigeria to conduct the forthcoming pilgrimage to the holy land after a rigorous screening conducted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The hajj and umrah agency boss welcomed the policy, saying that it had reduced the proliferation of unregistered hajj operators.
He said: “Some two or three years ago, around this time, you would have seen different commercials on air, with different companies telling you to come and perform hajj with them, whether they were registered or not. Due to the new policy, however, the trend is coming down.
“This is because the information (about the 40 registered companies) is out there. And, I don’t think any media will be ready to run such a commercial knowing full well that the company is not registered for Hajj 2024. This is showing that the industry is getting sanitised. So, my major advice for intending pilgrims is to open their eyes, look at what is there and choose from the list of registered companies.”
Alhaji Solate also cautioned intending pilgrims to be wary of fraudsters and encouraged them to patronise only tour operators approved by NAHCON for this year’s hajj.
He said there are media publications regarding the 40 approved private tour operators, noting that Hajj Mabrur is first on the list.
“I am using this medium to tell intending pilgrims that the hajj commission has done a lot of things in preparation for Hajj 2024 and has pushed them out in the media for people to be aware. They have taken a lot of steps this year which, in the long run, will sanitise our industry. It doesn’t give room to all comers.
“So, intending pilgrims do not have any excuse to fall into the wrong hands because the hajj commission has released a list of companies that have been approved or that are qualified to go (for Hajj 2024). They have penciled in 40 companies and our company, Hajj Mabrur, is first on that list.
“For intending pilgrims, they should be able to work with that list. So, those not fit into that, a pilgrim should be able to question them. Are you on the list or can they prove to the pilgrims that they have a direct link with those companies on the list?”
According to the Hajj Mabrur chief, “if intending pilgrims follow those guidelines from the hajj commission, they will be in safe hands because all eyes are on those 40 companies.”
He added: “None of them wants to disappoint. For them to have sailed through the hajj commission’s shortlist based on the criteria that the commission put in place, then it means they have a lot of reputation they want to live up to. You don’t want to disappoint yourself, neither do you want to disappoint the hajj commission and also you don’t want to disappoint the Saudi authorities. At the end of the day, you still want to do business.
“The pilgrims should open their eyes. They should check through the list of companies and they should take their cues from there. They should ensure their choices fall within those categories. By so doing, they will not fall into the hands of fraudsters, people who will dupe or take advantage of them.”
Alhaji Solate, therefore, charged the commission to commence arrangements for the 2024 hajj early for effective planning and coordination.
“NAHCON needs to make all the necessary arrangements much earlier because our arrangements always come late. A lot of countries would have concluded their hajj arrangements while we are still struggling. You can’t just go and book hotels when you don’t know the number of people coming. But by the time they are coming, the hotel you want to book is already filled because you came late. You will be forced to take them to another hotel which will not be of the same standard as what you promised your pilgrims.
“However, if they had come earlier, they would have given the number of those that are coming. They would have pushed the amount of money they need to push to you. You can make the arrangements as necessary. So, I think that is the area NAHCON needs to work on and that is what they are currently doing; so that once money comes, all the necessary arrangements, signing of documents and whatever, would have been done much earlier to make it easy.
“It is easier to start telling Saudi authorities what you want once you have done your part. If you have not done your obligation, it will be very difficult for you to claim some rights. I think the step they are taking now will allow them to be in a position to carry out their obligations as early as possible. So, the Saudi end will not have any excuses because the necessary things have come to them, and we will not have any excuses not to deliver,” he added.
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