A civil society organisation (CSO) monitoring Hajj and Umrah activities both in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), on Thursday, urged the Acting Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, to focus all his energy and attention on preparations for the 2025 Hajj that are currently moving very slowly in Nigeria.
In a statement signed and made available to Tribune Online by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed, stated that the CSO’s national executive committee welcomed Prof Usman, who formally assumed office on Wednesday.
According to Muhammed, the acting chairman took over affairs at NAHCON at a critical moment when the image and integrity of the Hajj industry had been punctures, submitting that the image needed immediate restoration.
“You are taking charge of the driver’s seat of the Hajj industry at a critical moment in the life of NAHCON since its creation via the NAHCON Establishment Act 2006 to serve as the apex Hajj regulatory authority in Nigeria.
“The image and integrity of the Nigerian Hajj industry has been punctured and it, therefore, needs an immediate restoration process – to regain the confidence and trust of pilgrims and Nigerian Muslim Ummah,” the IHR coordinator stated.
IHR also urged the NAHCON boss to reconfigure the apex regulator’s internal operating structure to emphasize service delivery to pilgrims as being developed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
“We advise the new NAHCON helmsman to be wary of distractions that might cause him to deviate from the onerous task of making sure that Nigerian pilgrims get commensurate and timely service delivery and ensuring proper coordination of other operational stakeholders such as States Muslim Pilgrims Boards and licensed private Hajj and Umrah operators for effective services.
“Close your ears to sugarcoated praise singers and writers, open your door to those with operational expertise and ideas, listen to advice and suggestions from your inner circle but understand the concept of what is right and what is wrong, carry your Commissioners and staff along in all decisions without forgetting that you are the chief accounting officer who will be held accountable for all implemented decisions.
“Always remember that the welfare of and services to Nigerian pilgrims is your first priority and ultimately, learn from the avoidable mistakes of your predecessors,” IHR said.
The group asserted that the commission’s major task now is to not only to compute realistic Hajj fare but also galvanise state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards, among others.
According to IHR, “The immediate task before the commission is to create the most realistic Hajj fare computation template, galvanize States Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Boards to embark on massive awareness about 2025 Hajj pilgrims registrations, rejig the pilgrim’s orientation manual to focus on how to perform Hajj rites and attain Hajj Mabrur as opposed to the promise of 11-star luxury and exclusives services that are practically not feasible.”
It added that the Hajj commission also needs to “address the genuine concerns of licensed Hajj and Umrah operators, laid down merit base guidelines of selecting adhoc committees during Hajj operations, infuse carrot and stick in dealing with your staff, go for Hajj service providers that have the capacity, experience to serve our dear pilgrims either onshore or offshore services”.
The CSO, however, assured the new helmsman at NAHCON of its continued support, adding that it will promote transparency and accountability.
“As a civil society organisation that has contributed so much to the dissemination of information to Muslim Ummah and promoting healthy competition, we will continue to support and promote transparency and accountability irrespective of whoever is involved and also maintain existing public and private channels of raising observations, offering suggestions and performing surveillance functions as journalists.”
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