The Nation Newspaper

Tag: the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

  • NAHCON’S forward March to 2025 Hajj

    NAHCON’S forward March to 2025 Hajj

    Suddenly, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, almost became the centre of activities in  Abuja in the month of February, 2025  This was after a rather sluggish break, rife with unpleasant misgivings by naysayers. The rumour mills keep rolling once there seems to be unclear status of certain expectations.

    The NAHCON leadership had been busy perfecting strategies for Nigeria’s grand showing at the world’s biggest annual rendezvous of muslims from all regions, the Hajj. First came the good news that the Chair, Prof Usman, personally flew all the way to the holy land to append signatures where necessary even as duty pressures at home kept on mounting. But the consolation was the success of the journey and the quick return to activate the entire system for the final phase of the preparations. All eyes had been on Prof Usman, the leader whose type NAHCON never had coming to confer both intellectual prowess and administrative sagacity on the nation’s Hajj sector.

    It was no mean honour that the high performing governor of Bornu State, Prof Zulum, sought out Prof Usman for a visit in Abuja, the first by any governor since Prof Usman assumed office perhaps. Governor Zulum acknowledged the good work of Prof Usman and wished him further success to the delight of the NAHCON management. It’s a grand acknowledgement of their collective efforts.

    The situation report today is that as the 2025 Hajj season approaches, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has been proactively implementing strategic measures to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience for Nigerian Muslims. From revising service contracts in Saudi Arabia to appointing a new secretary, these initiatives underscore NAHCON’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and pilgrim welfare.

    Read Also: Lent/Ramadan: Pray for peace, unity, Olu Alo urges Nigerians

    Duly asserting his intellectual authority, in preparation for Hajj 2025, the NAHCON Chair, Prof Usman, has successfully revisited and amended its contractual agreements with Saudi Arabian service providers. On February 22, 2025, for instance, the commission signed a revised contract with Mashariq Al Dhahabia, a Saudi-based company responsible for providing services to Nigerian pilgrims at the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. This amendment was necessitated by the realization that Nigeria would not be utilizing its full allocation of 95,000 pilgrim slots for the year. Consequently, the contract was adjusted to cater to 52,000 pilgrims, aligning services with the anticipated number of participants. NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, emphasized that this adjustment ensures resources are appropriately allocated, preventing overextension and enhancing service quality.

    The decision to amend the contract appears to have derived from operational challenges identified with Mashariq Al Dhahabia. To mitigate potential disruptions, NAHCON engaged an additional service provider to supplement pilgrim services during the critical five-day Masha’ir period. This move aimed to ensure that all Nigerian pilgrims receive adequate support during their stay in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. While Mashariq Al Dhahabia expressed concerns over this development, citing a potential breach of contract, NAHCON maintained that the engagement of supplementary service providers was imperative to uphold the welfare and satisfaction of pilgrims.

    Not given to underestimating devolution of powers as well as the invaluability of complementarity of peculiar strengths of individuals, the Prof Usman-led NAHCON has also recognized the need to strengthen its administrative framework. 

    NAHCON has since appointed Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali as the new Secretary of the Commission on February 26, 2025. Dr. Ali’s appointment came after the voluntary resignation of the former secretary, Dr. Abdullahi Rabi’u Kontagora, and the interim tenure of Alhaji Alidu Shutti. Dr. Ali emerged as the successful candidate after a rigorous selection process that assessed his qualifications and experience.

    Hailing from Yerwa in Borno State, Dr. Ali brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Islamic Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Administration, and a Diploma in Computer Application and Internet, among other qualifications. His academic journey has seen him attend prestigious institutions such as the University of Maiduguri, Bayero University Kano, and the University College for Islamic Call in Tripoli, Libya.

    An obviously heavily credentialed Dr. Ali has served in various capacities, including being the Director of the Centre for Kanuri Ajami and Qur’anic Studies at Borno State University, Chairman of the Care-taker Management Committee of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, and Deputy Provost at Muhammad Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies in Maiduguri.

    As Secretary, Dr. Ali’s responsibilities encompass maintaining records, conducting correspondence, and serving as the secretary at all NAHCON meetings. He is also tasked with ensuring effective reporting of the commission’s activities to relevant authorities, maintaining the register of licensed Hajj operators, facilitating the publication of the commission’s regulations, and coordinating performance standards. His tenure is set for an initial four-year period, with the possibility of renewal based on performance.

    Recognizing the importance of collaboration, NAHCON has been engaging with state governments to bolster support for Hajj operations. A notable example is the recent meeting between Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum. During this meeting, Governor Zulum pledged his commitment to supporting NAHCON’s initiatives and assured the mobilization of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to assist pilgrims across various states. This partnership aims to enhance the overall experience of pilgrims by ensuring that state-level resources and support systems are effectively integrated into the national Hajj framework.

    Transparency and accountability remain at the forefront of NAHCON’s operations. In light of recent contractual adjustments, the commission has been forthcoming about the challenges and rationale behind its decisions. For instance, the engagement of an additional service provider was a strategic response to operational challenges identified with the initial contractor, ensuring that the welfare of pilgrims remains uncompromised. NAHCON has consistently communicated these developments to the public, reinforcing its commitment to upholding the trust placed in it by Nigerian Muslims.

    As the countdown to Hajj 2025 continues, NAHCON’s proactive measures reflect its dedication to facilitating a hitch-free pilgrimage. The strategic amendments to service contracts, bolstered by the appointment of a seasoned administrator like Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali, underscore the commission’s resolve to address challenges head-on and optimize the Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims.

    Through collaborative efforts, transparent operations, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, NAHCON is poised to lead Nigerian pilgrims on a spiritually fulfilling journey during the 2025 Hajj season.

    Interestingly, the current Ramadan season avails all muslims to wish everyone prospecting to perform Hajj this year’s hajj and by implication the entire NAHCON team, all the best.  

    •Akanni, PhD is a veteran Hajj writer based in Lagos.

  • The inevitable renewal agenda for NAHCON

    The inevitable renewal agenda for NAHCON

    In perfect confirmation of the Islamic perception of indecent people who lack shame and are always ready to act out their recklessness, the propagandists are again at work. They wanted to skew the information about the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, such that the leadership that is just berthing is bedeviled?  In what worse manner could the immediacy and virality of online information be optimally exploited for deceit and ironically for matters relating to the deen of Islam? The alleged sleaze, so saddening, of the immediate past NAHCON leadership was rather too humongous and too recent to be easily swept under the carpet, its worth noting.

    Alhamdulilah for the reassuring divine assertion of the Almighty Allah to the effect that that after hardship shall come relief. Certainly, the wish  of every sincere Muslim in Nigeria with a fair knowledge of the situation with Hajj management is the restoration  of wisdom and even enhancement of same. Only Allah  has the capacity to make good things happen.

    It was almost a completely hopeless situation until the Federal Government finally took the renewed hope agenda to the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON after suddenly retiring the versatile hajj management czar, Ustaz Zikrullah Hassan. Till date, Polyglot Hassan is the only Chairman of NAHCON who has had a most respectable mix of experience of managing hajj successfully in both the private and public sectors.  Indeed, he managed Osun State Hajj Board without any board constituted for eight years and the pilgrims all over the state remain in awe of Ustaz till date. Beyond the Osun pilgrims, Hassan’s fellow chairmen of hajj boards in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja also conceded leadership to him on account of visible sterling qualities

    While at NAHCON therefore, Ustaz Hassan had commenced institutionalizing structures that should endure for ages. As a thoroughbred professional (he’s a lawyer and business management expert) with strong inclination for creativity  as well as continuity where necessary, he ran 2022 and 2023 hajj operations harmoniously. Such was the glowing performance that the leadership of the hajj boards of all participating West African countries adopted him as their leader! (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/546419-the-nahcon-intervention-in-nigerias-diplomatic-profiling-by-tunde-akanni.html?tztc=1)

    Read Also: Monarch lauds Olanipekun for donating Senate building to Ekiti varsity

    Resplendent in sheer exhibitionism of a bad salesman, the succeeding regime took off on a lousy note characteristic of toddlers learning to tread with large army of idlers anxious to flaunt their pathfinding role. The path they found turned out to be the road to perdition with the detailed disservice done the ummah playing out till date.

    The choice of a professor therefore was a most fitting reinforcement to the glorious era of Ustaz Zikrullah Hassan which ended abruptly just when the preparation for 2024 Hajj started gathering momentum. 

    Why should Professor Saleh Usman Pakistan not glorify professorship further by replicating the performance of the brother Professor at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Is-haq Oloyede described by their shared principal, President Bola Tinubu, as an uncommon scholar and an icon of integrity? Like Oloyede of JAMB, Pakistan’s academic affiliation is Arabic and Islamic Studies. Pakistan’s fortune is probably stronger with the presence on the NAHCON board, a heavily credentialed scholar and two-time vice chancellor of impeccable integrity, Prof Mahfouz Adedimeji, ably representing the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA.

    What will Pakistan do wrong by emulating his contemporary’s good qualities to earn himself and families, earthly applause as well as Allah’s favours confidently and most importantly present Islam in the best mould to the world?

    Transparency matters a lot.  As is the case with Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, of JAMB,  operators in the Hajj sector are quick to tell anyone interested that the preparations for the next Hajj commences almost immediately the one just concluded was over. Annually, JAMB is never contented with keeping mum over its trials and triumphs.    It presents the scorecard of her performance  to the world for proper understanding. The world can therefore comment competently on JAMB matters even as some comments are informed and some others may not be necessary at all being unfounded and completely irrelevant.

    Transparency pays all stakeholders and enables all to aspire to act right and promptly too. It signals accountability and attracts a lot of respect to those officials who are compliant. The ummah in Nigeria is anxious to see NAHCON rise gloriously back to the path of honour.

    As a public trust, the commission should endeavour to earn the confidence of pilgrims from all parts of the country in ways most harmonious. The President has unmistakably demonstrated the importance of this most convincingly.  What with the recent ‘transplanting’ of whole council team of the Federal University Oye Ekiti to Federal University, Lokoja and that of Lokoja to Oye Ekiti? The idea was to ensure a pan-Nigerian outlook for the leadership of the two universities, the press statement announcing the change stated.

    The Saleh Usman leadership should be able to build on the sincere growth and developmental efforts of Ustaz Hassan especially now that Hassan stands vindicated in spite of blackmailers campaign against him like they are already up in hostility against Saleh Usman even before seeing him settle.

     Though not a media professional, Hassan appreciated the need for a code of practice for journos that may be enlisted to cover hajj for NAHCON. For the first time in 2023, the code was introduced. The code may need to be updated and perfected but will surely help substantially in the coverage of hajj beyond sheer casual stringing.  This is particularly necessary because of the need for authenticated information on the sacred exercise as different from any social, political or ceremonial facet of human life.  This may therefore call for a thorough and coordinated orientation for all journos from across all state boards and even the private tour operators. Thankfully, there is ample technology to make this happen if NAHCON endorses this.

    The scholar that Saleh Usman is should even up the stake as someone familiar with research and development especially as applicable to the trend of radicalisation of the communication sector changing by the day with possibilities bourgeoning.  Documentation of hajj should enjoy trendy technological skills including livestreaming such that the media team should be made to realise that the new leadership will encourage team members to update skills as NAHCON may only patronize only the trendy ones. No media organisation should be made to believe that NAHCON cannot make any choice different from them as had been the practice over the years.

     The logic that Prof Saleh Usman should reckon with is that this is the same way digital media innovations have been multiplying and manifesting novel capacities to endear themselves to users fanning up stiff competitions with newer possibilities.

    Prof Saleh Usman hardly needs be told that hajj, with little or no subsidy as may be the case this year, calls for high grade prudence but this could even be done with more honour if NAHCON can simply adopt the stipulations of the protocols of Open Government Parnership, OGP, long signed by President Buhari, which will signal to the world that indeed this new leadership signals a very clear departure from that of the corruption ridden and grossly incompetent immediate past leadership.

    With Prof Saleh Usman’s pedigree, one may simply conclude that NAHCON will head for greater performance. 

    But how soon will this be? He has my best wishes.

    Akanni, PhD, associate professor of journalism at LASU, is a veteran hajj reporter.