*Photo L-R: VP Kashim Shettima and NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman*
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead Nigeria’s contingent to this year’s Hajj.
Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, disclosed this Wednesday morning on Freedom Radio Kaduna, Hausa programme, Barka Da Warhaka.
Professor Saleh Usman stated that the Vice President would be making the trip, to perform the annual religious rite as a Muslim and also to personally supervise the Hajj exercise.
He added that this would afford the Vice President to see and assess how the Hajj operations would be handled by those saddled with the responsibility, instead of relying on third party information.
Professor Saleh Usman pointed out that it would also aid in guarding against the nation’s number two man from
being misinformed by those who see nothing good in assignment
done by others, a situation that has given Hajj operations in Nigeria negative narratives year-in-year-out.
Speaking on the ongoing arrangements for this year’s Hajj, the NAHCON Chairman said everything was on course, as provision for over seventy thousand pilgrims from the ninety five thousand Saudi approved Nigeria’s quota has been made.
Professor Saleh Usman expressed delight that the measures taken so far have tamed the annually astronomical rise in the cost of the yearly religious ritual, saying more reliefs were still being expected for this year’s intending pilgrims from some charges and taxes usually paid to some government agencies during previous operations.
He further stated that, though the time frame for payment of Hajj fairs had lapsed, nonetheless payment are still being accepted to a particular date the Commission kept to itself after which no payment would be accepted.
The Chairman disclosed that the Saudi authorities have introduced new dual health measures – Health Service Providers – for pilgrims.
The two categories of Health Service Providers are the all encompassing Health Service Provider, in which all health matters of pilgrims, from supervision, diagnosis to treatment and medicaments would be exclusively handled by Saudi health officials, doctors and hospitals, while the other Provider would play supervisory role only in which the Saudi health officials would ensure conformity and adherence to laid down health laws, rules regulations and guidelines for pilgrims.
He said Nigeria has opted for the second Health Service Provider, due to the high financial implications of the first measure.
He advised state pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions to strictly adhere to the Saudi health guidelines on pilgrim’s health condition to ensure that only healthy and able bodied persons embarked on the pilgrimage to guard against fatalities and casualties.
The NAHCON Chairman was optimistic that the Hajj Saving Scheme which is the exclusive preserve and responsibility of states pilgrim handlers under the supervision of the Commission, would ease and simplify Hajj affairs in Nigeria if diligently handled and operated.
He the floodgates of the scheme would be plunged open for more Banks inclined to Islamic guidelines on banking and investment to participate in the scheme, hoping in few years, Nigeria would get to the level of Indonesia, or Malaysia in Hajj affairs.
Professor Saleh Usman said the Commission welcomes constructive criticism and well intentioned advices that would improve service delivery to the Nigerian pilgrim in particular and the Muslim Ummah in general.
He however advised against mischief, unguarded utterances, and unfounded allegations against the Commission or its staff, as these vices benefit neither the detractor himself, nor Islam, or the Muslim Ummah.
Haba! What has the Vice President got to do with supervision of Hajj pilgrims? There are enormous mundane tasks for him in government. Let’s not politicise Hajj operation. It is a pact between the pilgrims and Allah.
Again, why a hidden date for backdoor registration? Let’s be open at all times.
May Allah continue to direct us 🙏.