THE Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), an organisation that monitors and reports hajj and umrah activities, has congratulated the acting chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalal Arabi, on his appointment.
IHR, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, on Thursday, also commended the immediate past board of NAHCON headed by Alhaji Zikirullah Hassan, for services rendered to Nigerian pilgrims despite challenges.
“As a seasoned civil servant, the new NAHCON helmsman comes onboard with a technocratic experience which we believe will come to bear as he assumes duty.
“We also note that the new chairman is coming into office at the right time with a timeline of activities regarding Hajj 2024 just picking up.
“We urge that he hits the ground running by continuing where the last board stopped and ensuring prompt registration of intending pilgrims and engagement of capable service providers for Hajj 2024.
“Furthermore, we urge the new chairman to immediately mobilise needed tools to launch a massive public enlightenment to educate intending pilgrims on the short time available for registration for the 2024 hajj pilgrimage with emphasis on states to cue in for maximum reach,” the organisation said.
It added that as a retired permanent secretary in the federal civil service, it expected the new NAHCON boss to put in place a comprehensive and sustainable hajj policy that will focus on efficient service delivery to Nigerian pilgrims and see to its implementation at every stage.
IHR, while commending the immediate past board of the commission for doing well despite numerous challenges, particularly paid tribute to it for the take-off of the Hajj Savings Scheme and the Hajj Institute of Nigeria.
The organisation said: “While we wish the incoming CEO a successful tenure of office, we call on him to work in harmony with the state pilgrims boards and agencies as well as tour operators to see to the successful registration of pilgrims and the implementation of the road map to Hajj 2024, as encapsulated in the programmes and policies being implemented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah towards Hajj 2024.”
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then