The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says the implementation of the Hajj Savings Scheme will enable Nigeria to get over unforeseen circumstances like during the 2022 hajj operations.
Addressing journalists in Abuja Wednesday, NAHCON Chairman, Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, said the scheme, operated by countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, had made hajj operations easy as it avails countries with enough funds in for quick arrangement for any emergent situation.
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“These countries, having operated the scheme for years, have enough return on investment to significantly subsidize hajj fare.”
He said NAHCON had nothing to hide about the scheme as it had the Central Bank of Nigeria accounts.
He said the commission was prepared to domesticate the hajj sector due to President Muhammadu Buhari’s subscription to Open Government Partnership (OGP).
Noting that 95 percent of Nigeria’s pilgrims travelled for the pilgrimage, he the challenges during the operation were due to Saudi Arabian authorities giving just six months for preparations.
“We’re happy to announce to you that on account of the enhanced performance in this year’s hajj by NAHCON, all other African countries consensually deferred to us to lead them in interfacing with the Saudi authorities. The commission was also able to peg hajj fare to its barest minimum despite the obviously daunting economic challenges (local and global).”
He said the commission had started preparations for 2023 hajj with discussions ongoing with relevant Saudi authorities for early information dissemination.
“We met with Muassassah during Hajj 2022 especially on the area of service delivery to pilgrims and agreed to work collectively to avoid the challenges experienced this year for them to greatly service delivery to pilgrims by setting standards for operation.”
He added that preparation had also started on the appointment of air carriers for operations.
