NAHCON signs agreement on services for hajj pilgrims

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5 years ago

THE chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, has signed the 2020 hajj agreement with the Establishment of Pilgrims of African Non-Arab Countries in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The signing of the agreement is a condition for all hajj-participating countries. The agreement borders on services available for pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.

Hassan also signed agreement with HAFIL Transport Company for the movement of pilgrims from place to place during hajj. The company is operating under car syndicate services to transport pilgrims within Saudi Arabia during the hajj exercise.

In December, Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj on the participation of the country in the 2020 hajj exercise.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, signed the document on behalf of Nigeria, while Dr Saleh Bn Taher Benten, signed for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Following the MoU, Nigeria got an allocation of 95,000 slots for this year’s pilgrimage.

NAHCON has also begun inspection of all kitchens that will provide catering services for this year’s hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

The team, which was inaugurated by the commission’s chairman, Hassan, last week and led by a NAHCON director, Zakariyau Umar, carried out its first assignment with the inspection of all the kitchens that proposed to provide food to pilgrims.

According to a member of the committee and Deputy Director, Information and Publications/Media Division, Hajiya Fatima Mustapha, the committee verified the registration of the kitchens with the relevant Saudi authorities.

Hajiya Mustapha stated that the committee would not compromise the quality of the services to be rendered to pilgrims.

The commission has equally parleyed with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for improved services.

A meeting which was held at the headquarters of IDB in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recently also centered on building the capacity of NAHCON personnel by the IDB in order to boost hajj operations.