Al-Hujjaj boss appeals to NAHCON over Hajj medical team

A private tour operator, Al-Hujjaj International Umrah and Hajj Services Ltd, has enjoined the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to allow private tour operators to continue to be accompanied to the Holy Land by their own medical teams to be able to meet to the medical needs of their pilgrims.

This was just as the company, which came into being in 1975, commended the passion of the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, for meeting the expectations of pilgrims.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Al-Hujjaj Travels and Tours Ltd, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Animashaun, made the remarks in Lagos while briefing journalists on the award the company received as the second best-performing tour operator in Nigeria for the 2016 hajj.

Recipients were presented with the awards, organised by the presidency under the supervision of NAHCON, at an event in Abuja on July 1, 2017.

Animashaun, who disclosed that his company had always ensured that Nigerian foods were served to its pilgrims, said it was important that medical teams be allowed to accompany private tour operators as was the practice in the past. According to him, NAHCON’s medical team could not be able to spread its services to every Nigerian pilgrim.

“At Al-Hujjaj, we have always gone for hajj with our medical team since this organisation was established. There was no year we didn’t travel with our operational team, medical team, among others. Last year, we were not allowed. They said they had all the medical facilities, which was true. But where we lived, we still needed the medical personnel to assist pilgrims in cases of any emergencies in the night.

“But we appeal to them this year. I think they should allow us to go with our medical team this year. Since we established this organisation, it was only last year we were not allowed to take our medical team along. I think they should allow us this year,” Animashaun said.

Regarding the award, he expressed appreciation to Allah and the chairman of NAHCON, saying he was delightful that Al-Hujjaj was able to achieve such a feat in the industry.

“For coming second in Nigeria, this has surely shown the quality of our services to our people. We are aiming high,” he said.

General Manager Al-Hujjaj, Alhaji Lukmon Olajobi, in his remark, also thanked NAHCON for recognising the company’s effort, noting that hajj was not a seasonal but an all-year-round business.