The acting Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi, OON, fwc, has said that prioritizing and improving pilgrims’ welfare and services will be the major task the commission will pursue during the 2024 hajj.
The Chairman disclosed this while receiving the report of the Committee on Review of Accommodation and Feeding Guidelines at the Board Room of the Hajj House, today.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commission’s Deputy Director, Information and Publications, Mal Mousa Ubandawaki, the acting Chairman said that delivering improved quality service is an under pinning task that the Commission would pursue in fulfilment of its mandate as well as sustaining the trust and confidence of the people and pilgrims.
According to him, the presentation of the Report and Recommendations therein “will go a long way to revitalize the confidence and trust of the people and pilgrims especially in us.
“I want to thank you for your devotion and dedication. This report and the recommendation will definitely contribute to enhance the progressive and practical ways of doing things. I know that there is nothing constant in life than change and therefore we need to be innovative in the way we do things. I assure you that we will look at the teport, collectively before the implementation to be able to get some positive changes in the way we do things for the betterment of the pilgrims.”
Malam Arabi further urged the State Pilgrims Welfare Board/Agencies/Commission to cooperate and support the Commission in its task saying “it is no gain saying that there is need for more synergy between the Commission and the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies. It is heartwarming that some of the executives of State Pilgrims Welfare Boards are part of the Committee. I hope that you will take the message to your colleagues that they need to queue into some of the recommendation that you are part of making, and to convince them that the recommendations you have made in the report is to make the way we do things simpler and for the betterment of all.”
Earlier, Dr Aliyu Tanko who was the Chairman of the Committee expressed appreciation for the trust reposed on them. He explained that the Committee had made far-reaching recommendations to rid Feeding and Accommodation arrangements of some of the bottlenecks.
Recall that the 16-member Committee was constituted and inaugurated in December 5th with the tasks of:
I. To evaluate the current accommodation and catering guidelines.
II. To assess the current standards for pilgrims Accommodation and Catering services.
III. Identify areas of improvement.
IV. Propose a review of the guidelines that will ensure a comfortable and enriching experience for our pilgrims.