2017 Hajj: NAHCON begins processing visa for 40,000 intending pilgrims

By Kazeem Ategbeshe with Agency report

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced processing of visas for about 40,000 intending pilgrims who have completed payment of their hajj fares in different states.

The Head of Media of NAHCON, Malam Uba Mana, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

Vanguard gathered that about 95,000 pilgrims from state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies as well as private tour operators in the country would be seeking visa to perform the 2017 hajj.

Mana, however, advised all intending pilgrims wishing to travel for the 2017 hajj to complete payment of their hajj fares in their respective states before the closure of Saudi Electronic-portal for visa approval.

According to him, the first flight to convey Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 hajj is scheduled to depart on Friday, July 30. He therefore urged state pilgrims boards and agencies to immediately commence the inoculation of intending pilgrims and issuance of Basic Travel Allowance.

The NAHCON spokesman listed states with highest number of registered pilgrims to includes Kaduna with 6, 335, followed by Niger with 4, 129, Zamfara, Kano and Sokoto each with about 3, 000 pilgrims.

 Stakeholders want FG to manage hajj operations

Meanwhile, Hajj and Umrah Stakeholders, on Sunday in Abuja, appealed to the Federal Government not to completely remove its hands from the management of Hajj and Umrah operations in the country.

The appeal was made in a communique issued at the end of a two-day National Hajj and Umrah Stakeholders Conference organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to mark the 10th Anniversary of the commission in Abuja last weekend.

The event which was attended by the Executive Secretaries and Chairmen of States Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies, Tour Operators, Aviation Industry Professionals, among others was themed: “Hajj Management in Nigeria: Honouring the past, treasuring the present and shaping the future.”

Chairman of the occasion, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III,  and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs appealed to the Federal Government to reinstate the position of Amirul Hajj in line with Islamic tradition.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 22, 2015, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, declared that there would be no Federal Government delegation for pilgrimage.

An Amirul Hajj is a leader of Hajj pilgrims, appointed by the government body, Hajj commission or religious head to lead the Hajj pilgrimage and offer advice on appropriate rules and regulation for performing Hajj, leading prayers, and overseeing grievances.

However, Secretary to the commission, Dr Bello Tambuwal who read the communique said stakeholders insisted that the commission should remain under the Presidency and rejected calls for its return to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 High cost of hajj

On the high cost of hajj in the country, it was noted that the exchange rate of dollar was responsible for the high cost of 2017 hajj fares.

Dr Tambuwal however recalled that the 2016 hajj financial transactions were based on the official dollar exchange rate of N197 to a dollar but the 2017 hajj fare was based on N305 to dollar.

Participants stated that the activities of the commission should driven by modern technology with the development of software management system.

Again, the forum urged NAHCON to partner with Jaiz Bank to establish Hajj Saving Scheme without further delay with a view to boosting revenue profile of the commission as well as establishment of an FM Hajj Radio Station to ensure proper control and dissemination of accurate information for intending pilgrims.

Participants also commended the Federal Government for granting NAHCON the approval to acquire the Metro Plaza, Abuja, as its Headquarters just as they urged government to dialogue with Saudi Arabia over policy of allocating 50 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi-designated air carrier.

The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed disclosed that the commission would establish a standard Hajj Training Institute for the training of Hajj Managers and handlers in the country.

Mohammed also said that NAHCON was also planning to establish a Hajj Saving Scheme in order to boost the revenue profile of the Commission to attain financial autonomy.

According to him, the commission has recorded tremendous achievement in the last one decade, adding that since the inception of NAHCON Nigerian pilgrims no longer become stranded in Saudi Arabia during hajj.

 NASS sets up c’ttee to resolve hajj fare controversy

Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman House Committee on Nigeria and Saudi Inter-Parliamentary Friendship, in the House of Representative, Dr Abdullahi Salame, said the National Assembly has set up Ad-hoc Committee to resolve burning issues arising from the 2017 Hajj fare announced by the Commission.

Salame said that the committee had been mandated to investigate the true picture of this year’s hajj fares and to suggest ways to bring down the fares if possible.

The lawmaker assured that NASS National would continue to give all the necessary support to ensure that religious activities, within and outside the country are conducted with little hitches.

Salame, however, advised the commission to always involve all stakeholders on hajj when taking decision to avoid unnecessary controversy as witnessed this year over hajj fares.

The Guest Speaker at the Conference, Dr Usman Bugaje, urged NAHCON to intensify efforts in overcoming the myriad of problems hindering smooth hajj operation in the country.

Bugaje said despite its 10 years of existence, NAHCON was yet to begin the actual work it was established to perform as a regulatory body for hajj and umrah activities.

 

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