The Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, today said that despite the challenges encountered in the preparations for this year’s Hajj, the commission had overcome them as processing of visas for Nigerian pilgrims had reached advance stage.
Arabi said these in his opening remark at the opening ceremony of a two-day first national stakeholders summit of Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah industry, with the theme, “Partnership, Collaboration and Teamwork: The Tripod of Success for 2024 Hajj Operations”, being held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
According to him, challenges encountered in the course of preparations for the 2024 Hajj ranged from Hajj fare, exchange rate, number of registered pilgrims, visa processing, accommodation, and Masha’ir to other logistics.
“The preparation for this year’s Hajj was characterised by different challenges. Alhamdulillah we are able to overcome these challenges ranging from hajj fare, exchange rate, number of registered pilgrims, visa processing, accommodation, Masha’ir and other logistics.
“Alhamdulillah a total number of close to 65,500 pilgrims of state pilgrims welfare boards/agencies/commissions and tour operators will be participating in this year’s Hajj.
“The visa processing has reached an advanced stage and approved carriers are fully ready for the airlift of the pilgrims from 10 departure centres.
“All pilgrims of state pilgrims welfare boards/agencies/commissions will be visiting Madinah Munawarrah for a maximum of four days before the Hajj exercise. This is a major change from the operations of Hajj in the last decade,” the NAHCON Chairman said.
He asserted that Nigerian pilgrims can only be compensated for the challenges they faced this year with effective and efficient service delivery “that will engender the renewed hope of Nigerian pilgrims and the emergence of Nigeria as the best Hajj mission globally.”
This, he said, could only be actualised through partnership, collaboration and teamwork on the airlifting, accommodation, transportation, feeding and Masha’ir activities.
Arabi assured that under his watch the Hajj commission is fully ready to partner, collaborate and work with stakeholders as a team for the attainment of successful 2024 Hajj operations.
In his words, “I hereby assure all major stakeholders that NAHCON under my watch is fully ready to partner, collaborate and work as a team for the attainment of successful 2024 Hajj operations thus, building team members that trust and support one another and respect one another’s individual differences.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NEWSNGR.COM.NG