From Makkah.
NAHCON delegation under the leadership of its Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has met members of the Tawafah Company for Pilgrims of African Non-Arab Countries popularly known as the Mu’assasa.
Fatima Sanda Usara,AD/Public Affairs,NAHCON,in a statement, a copy of which was made available to The Reporters on Thursday said the meeting, held at the instance of NAHCON, aimed at seeking debriefing and resolution of two crucial 2022 Hajj operational matters.
The first,she added, was to seek explanation for the Private Tour Operators IBAN account accreditation setback and way forward and the second centred on the poor feeding arrangement during the pilgrims’ stay in Mina and Arafat as well as NAHCON’s request for refund on behalf of the pilgrims.
She qouted the Chairman of the Mu’assasa, Mr. Ahmad Sindi, as explaining at the meeting that the issue of IBAN account was affected generally by lateness in this year’s Hajj announcement.
He was specifically on the issues relating to mismatch in the Account Numbers and Account Holders’names on one hand and on another level, inaccurate Account Numbers.
Sindi assured that the monies were intact, adding that they would be returned to NAHCON’s account as soon as the Mu’assasa receives formal letter of request to that effect.
Contributing, the Vice President of Mu’assasa, Mr Muhammad Burhan Saifuddeen, gave a breakdown of the remaining amount yet to be credited to 33 Tour Operator companies.
NAHCON image maker said that Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs; Hon Abubakar Nalaraba, Chairman and House Committee on Pilgrimage attended the meeting.
Others, according to her include; representatives of Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria (AHUON); that of Nigeria’s Diplomatic Corps, as well as representatives of Nigeria’s local and foreign media.
Also in attendance are; NAHCON’s Commissioner, PPMF, Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakassai; Commissioner, PRSLS, Sheikh Suleiman Momoh; senior directors and some staff of the Commission, essential to the assignment.
On the Mina feeding arrangement Mr. Sindi promised that his company would work with only well-established caterers that had adequate manpower and sufficient facilities next year, adding it might even require bank guarantees before accepting any recommended caterer.
According to him, this becomes imperative because of the disappointment the company also witnessed, this year, from the engaged caterers.
He said the company initially got the impression the services of the caterers were satisfactory.
The Tawafah Chairman explained that during one of his tours in Mina, he ordered for substitute meal for one of the field offices after complaints by the pilgrims on the quality of food and quantity they were served.
According to him, Tawafah considers the pleasure of the pilgrims foremost priority in its programme, adding that the extra meal was offered at no cost to the pilgrims or the caterer.
Mr. Sindi promised to explore NAHCON’s request for refund and revert.
Usara added that the annual post Arafat meeting was held yesterday where the NAHCON Chairman disclosed that unlike circumstances surrounding 2022 Hajj, preparations for 2023 Hajj had commenced from July 13, 2022.
In another development, the Chief Executive Office of Indonesia’s Badan Pengelola Keuangan Hajji (BPKH), Mr Anggitto Abbhimanyu, was at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s office in Ummul Juud, Makkah on a familiarization visit, accompanied by by his special assistant.
AD/Public Affairs,NAHCON, further disclosed that the interactive meeting centred around issues of common interest; technical cooperation, challenges, and solution to numerous issues raised during the visit.
The BPKH is the equivalent of Hajj Savings Scheme in Nigeria and Tabung Hajji in Malaysia.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
