The leadership of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit on the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan.
The group was led on the visit by its President, Alhaji Razak Oladejo.
On hand to receive them at Hajj House, Abuja were Alhaji Hassan as well as NAHCON Board members and top management staff.
While welcoming the guests, Alhaji Hassan expressed delight at the visit. He stated that the emergency nature and challenges of this year’s Hajj was a learning curve for the Commission and further announced that the Commission will commence preparation for 2023 Hajj in the next few weeks.
On the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS), Alhaji Hassan commented that as a new concept in the country, it was bound to have some teething problems but expressed optimism that with time, the scheme would bring enormous benefit to the country as in Malaysia and Indonesia where the profits from similar schemes had been used to subsidize the cost of Hajj for this year and years past. He further reiterated that the advantages of HSS would not be felt by NAHCON alone but the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the Hajj Institute would formally be launched in three months’ time with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to declare the Institute open.
* Presentation of Gifts by NAHCON Chairman/ CEO, Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan to Alhaji Razak Oladejo, President of MUSWEN *
Alhaji Hassan further disclosed that he and his Commissioners and some Management Staff of the Commissions would form the first set of enrollees at the Institute.
*Group Photograph of NAHCON Management and the Delegation from MUSWEN*
Alhaji Oladejo, the leader of the MUSWEN delegation commended the Commission on the successful 2022 Hajj operations despite the challenges. He also commended some of the initiatives listed by the NAHCON Chairman. He expressed his belief that the Hajj Savings Scheme would help generate revenue for the Commission.
He emphasized that the Hajj Institute is necessary to educate and train operators and service providers in the Hajj and Umrah industry to professionalize the services enjoyed by pilgrims. Alhaji Oladejo further called on the NAHCON Boss for uniformity in regulations and sanctions against defaulters which he stated will help sanitize the Hajj industry.