Why 2022 Hajj had hiccups however 2023 train will not

Zikrullah Hassan, the chief govt officer of the Nationwide Hajj Fee (NAHCON), has mentioned the fee has began getting ready for Hajj 2023 ten months forward of time, to enhance service supply and keep away from the challenges they confronted on this 12 months’s Islamic pilgrimage.

NAHCON has began discussions with related Saudi authorities on Hajj and Umrah for early info dissemination, Mr Hassan mentioned in Abuja on Wednesday whereas giving a short in regards to the fee’s actions.

He mentioned the management of NAHCON met with related Saudi companies throughout Hajj 2022, to make sure improved service supply to pilgrims.

“We now have agreed to work collectively to keep away from the challenges skilled this 12 months and to vastly enhance service supply to pilgrims by setting requirements for operation,” he mentioned.

Attributable to challenges reminiscent of inadequate flights, tons of of intending Nigerian pilgrims weren’t in a position to make it to this 12 months’s hajj regardless of making full fee and assembly all different necessities. About 1,200 Muslims missed the train in Kano resulting from flight hitches.

However, Mr Hassan mentioned the 2022 Hajj was globally famend because the “emergency Hajj.” He mentioned the fee was given one month to organise and had different “uncommon intervening variables” to take care of.

“Though Hajj is a once-a-year train, its preparations span a complete 12 months to allow it to succeed. However that routine of full-year preparations didn’t occur for the emergency Hajj of 2022 and that was why it was labelled emergency Hajj.”

It took nearly six months to organize for it at the same time as Hajj had been cancelled for 2 earlier years to the utmost distaste of intending pilgrims for these years, he mentioned.

“Worse, when the 2022 hajj was lastly introduced by the Saudi Arabia authorities to be potential, the quantity to be allowed had been severely slashed by greater than 50 per cent. Nigeria that was allowed to current 95,000 pilgrims had its lower all the way down to 43,000.”

Regardless of these challenges, the NAHCON chief mentioned, the company is poised to advance the curiosity of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia and guarantee this 12 months’s hajj is a hit.

“We’re absolutely ready to cultivate within the Hajj sector President Buhari’s subscription to Open Authorities Partnership, OGP, deriving from the enactment of the Freedom of Info Act of 2011.

“It could equally curiosity you to know that we now have remained resolute on making certain good well being providers to Nigerian pilgrims. Members of our medical group are as versatile as these of different top-rated nations along with supportive amenities and medicines. The accessibility of our clinics for pilgrims from all states made them their first decisions as soon as they took in poor health.

“We’re completely happy to announce to you that on account of the improved efficiency on this 12 months’s hajj by NAHCON, all different African nations consensually deferred to us to steer them in interfacing with the Saudi authorities,” he mentioned.

READ ALSO: Hajj 2022: 600 intending Kano pilgrims miss out regardless of full fee – Official

Mr Hassan added that the fee remains to be happy with the successes recorded in Hajj 2022.

“We had a low mortality charge through the train; 95% of intending pilgrims travelled regardless of challenges,” he mentioned.

He mentioned the return journey ended sooner than scheduled, and there was a discount in the price of lodging and a discount within the variety of days pilgrims spent in Saudi Arabia.

Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is likely one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Islam requires all able-bodied Muslims to undertake a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia at the least as soon as if they’ll afford it.

Forward of 2023, Mr Hassan mentioned preparation already began on due diligence on the appointment of air carriers and session on the modification of some sections of the NAHCON Act to allow easy operation of the Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS).

Earlier in April, there have been allegations of fraudulent practices by NAHCON by way of the HSS. The company was consequently investigated by anti-corruption companies and the Home of Representatives.

Mr Hassan mentioned Wednesday that the investigation has been concluded and “they had been in a position to show that there was no fraud in our actions. We now have nothing to cover and so they have cleared us.”

He expressed confidence that the fee has a brighter future underneath his management.

“We now have began the graduation of the Public Non-public Partnership (PPP) in turning waste (our landed properties) to riches and the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) to be formally opened by President Muhammadu Buhari later this 12 months.”

The HIN goals to professionalise the administration and administration of Hajj in Nigeria and improve the income of the fee.