*Photo: Alhaji Hassan ( seated 4th left) with other NAHCON top shots and members of the Committee *
The Assessment and Award Committee for 2022 Hajj on September 21, 2022 submitted its report to the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan with Yobe, Kaduna and Lagos states adjudged as deserving awards of excellence.
From record of the scores, Yobe state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board came first with 117 points out of 130 cumulative points, followed by Kaduna with 115 points and Lagos with 114 points. Other states that excelled in specific areas were also recognized and recommended for award.
The Committee was inaugurated on Thursday 16th June, 2022 before the Hajj exercise with a timeline of submission after Hajj, according to Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON.
Among its mandate is the task of monitoring the States Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (SMPWBs) to identify those that excelled in service delivery to its pilgrims and score each accordingly. In particular, the Committee was tasked to:
* Assess and determine the level of performance of each state in terms of preparations prior to and during the actual conduct of 2022 Hajj.
* Grade the performance of each state accordingly on all indices identified by the committee.
* Recommend to NAHCON those who deserve to be awarded.
* Collate information about the work structure of each state.
While receiving the report, Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan disclosed that members of the Committee were carefully selected from among veterans of the Hajj industry in Nigeria and renown persons of integrity. He therefore expressed confidence in the outcome of their assignment, stating that they represent the cream of the Hajj industry in Nigeria, some of whom will be engaged to lecture in the Hajj Training Institute being people of diverse knowledge in the Hajj industry. He disclosed that NAHCON will organize its customary award ceremony where each state will be celebrated accordingly.
Alhaji Suleiman Usman is Chairman of the Assessment and Award Committee for 2022 Hajj; a two-time Executive Secretary of Jigawa state before moving to federal level as Director, Planning Research, Statistics and Library Services (PRSLS); a cadre from which he retired from NAHCON.
Other members of the Committee include Alhaji Abu Rimi, former E.S Katsina SMPWB, Alhaji Abba Yakubu, former ES, Kano SMPWB; Alhaji Yusuf Muhammad Mukhtar Bako, former ES Edo State; Alhaji Zikrullah Alawo, former ES Osun state; Imam Hussein Tsoho Ikara, former Overseer, Kaduna SMPWB; Alhaji Okoya Muftau, Hajj Veteran from Lagos; Amb. Munir Liman, former Nigerian representative in Saudi Arabia; Alhaji Uba Mana, former Director Media, NAHCON; Barr. Dauda Sanusi, Hajj veteran from Abuja; Alhaji Aminu Kasba, Hajj veteran from Benin; Alhaji Turaki Aliyu, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies and veteran in the Hajj industry.
The later serves as Secretary of the Committee.
In his remarks during submission of the report, the Committee Chairman, Alhaji Usman explained that the SMPWBs were assessed in 27 different areas; indices which the Assessment team selected from the Annual Hajj Calenda of event as guide.
They measured compliance to the expected milestones in the calendar and awarded marks accordingly. They also measured official structures, facilities, discipline, and effective use of the organizational structures and facilities. Furthermore, he stated that data were collated from security surveys, interviews with pilgrims, Non-Governmental Organizations present on the filed during onshore operations.
Other methods of data gathering were collective observations by the team members, interview with staff and visits to various pilgrims’ accommodations. The team also measured consistency in attending Hajj preparatory meetings called by the Hajj apex body in Nigeria, NAHCON. It also assessed time of remittance of Hajj fare, quality of suitcases, BTA processing, compliance to Muna outing regulations among others. Finally, the team consulted records and assessments made by groups with similar function and to its pleasant discovery, the perceptions tallied.
Commending the Committee for doing a thorough job, Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Magaji Hardawa also prayed the Almighty to reward them for their painstaking effort. He eulogized the Committee describing it as first of its kind. He prayed that the result would be beneficial to the entire Muslim Ummah in terms of gingering better output from all industry players.