President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to build on all the successes it recorded so far by continuously providing qualitative and diligent services to Nigerian pilgrims, both in Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia.
The president gave the directive while flagging off inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj Thursday in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, however, commended NAHCON for her diligence in ensuring a smooth sail during the preparation stages of this year’s Hajj operation.
The president also called on pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Islam and the Nigerian State in the holy land by obeying all laws, rules and regulations of the host country. He enjoined them to pray for peace, development and progress of the country while in the holy land.
Also, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan in his speech earlier, assured all pilgrims that the commission had concluded arrangements to ensure that the accommodation, feeding and transportation facilities on ground are the best, adding that this year’s Hajj would not be just about stories but stories of success.
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“This year, the Commission had been confronted with many challenges which were thankfully managed with the support of sister agencies and other stakeholders in the Hajj Industry. We were able to negotiate a reasonable price for hotel accommodation in Makkah knowing fully well that numerous hotels have been demolished for futuristic development.
“Also, we have been able to maintain the standard in Madinah whereby our pilgrims are lodged in 5-star hotels within the prestigious Markaziyya vicinity surrounding the Prophet’s Mosque.
“Thankfully, despite the unprecedented challenge caused by the closure of the Sudan airspace hence forcing a re-route from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we give gratitude to the Almighty for leading us to a smooth resolution of the quagmire. We appreciate federal government for waiving numerous aviation charges, the airlines for their sacrifices, the States’ Pilgrims Welfare Boards and our Pilgrims who all cooperated to arrive at an amiable solution to the seeming bottleneck.
“Similarly, the Commission, in collaboration with the Mutawwif’s Company for Pilgrims of Non-Arab African Countries popularly known as Muassasa, have put in place mechanisms for the comfort and safety of our pilgrims. We have agreed that this year, our pilgrims would be served indigenous meals. “To this end, the Commission created job opportunities for our Nigerian caterers by insisting that Saudi based caterers work in partnership with them in preparing Nigerian local cuisines for our pilgrims. Hiring indigenous airlines for the airlift operations is the Commission’s way of promoting local airlines to remain in business.
“Let me seize this opportunity to implore our pilgrims to be good representatives of Nigeria by abiding to the rules and regulations of our host country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I must commend the Custodians of the Two Holy mosques for their hospitality to pilgrims from all over the world. Truly they pride themselves as hosts to the Guests of the Most Merciful and they must be commended for playing this role well. I enjoin our pilgrims, here present and others that will follow, to pray for the peace and progress of our beloved country, Nigeria.
“On this note, I want to restate and re assure Nigerians that this year’s Hajj won’t be just about stories but stories of success. We have made and concluded arrangements to ensure that the accommodation, feeding and transportation facilities on ground are the best.
We are all aware of the crisis in Sudan, we plead with our pilgrims as they will have to traverse through a route longer than usual. In the light of the above, the States are urged to properly enlighten their pilgrims.
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