Although, the beginning of the famous months of Hajj (Shawwal, Dhul-Qa’dah and Dhul-Hijjah) is about 90 days away (today being the end of JumaadaThanni – 30/06/1445AH), the breeze of Hajj 2024 is blowing across Nigeria and globally.

In the past few days, it has been one news after another about the spiritual exercise, this year, as the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is leaving no stone unturned in order to ensure that the welfare of the prospective pilgrims is guaranteed while the objective of embarking on the journey is realized seamlessly.

The latest in the series of the glad tidings that have strengthened the preparation for Hajj 2024 is the composition, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the NAHCON Board and the management team.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Chief AjuriNgelale on Wednesday, the objective of the appointment is clear and unambiguous, “to ensure hitch-free and seamless 2024 Hajj operations.”

The new management team comprises Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi (Chairman); Alhaji AliuAbdulrazaq (Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel & Finance); Prince AnofiElegushi (Commissioner in charge of Operations) and Prof. Abubakar A. Yagawal (Commissioner for Planning & Research).
Other members of the Board are Dr Muhammad Umaru Ndagi (North Central); Abba Jato Kala (North East);Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman (North West); TajudeenOladejoAbefe (South West); Aishat Obi Ahmed (South East); Zainab Musa (South South); Prof Musa Inuwa Fodio (Jama’atulNasril Islam); and ProfAdedimeji Mahfouz Adebola (Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs).

While the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate, the President mandates the appointees to dedicate themselves to the task of ensuring that operations of the NAHCON are more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

It is instructive that the announcement came at the time Nigerian delegation at this year’s Hajj and Umrah Expo in Jeddah maximised all opportunities to scale up preparation and secure top-notch package from service providers for Nigerian pilgrims. Held at Super Dome Jeddah, the curtains drew on the expo yesterday. It started on January 8, 2024.

Indeed, the expo turned out to be an outstanding outing for Nigerian contingent led by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar as it was prefaced, on January 7, with the signing of the 2024 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Malam Arabi described the MoU signing as a significant reflection of NAHCON’s commitment to a seamless Hajj exercise for Nigerian pilgrims. The host country’s contingent was led by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Taufiq Al-Rabiah.

Prior to the MoU signing, the two Ministers held a brief discussion where Nigeria requested for a lasting solution to the shortage of tents in Mina and pressed for more favourable terms for Nigerian Carriers during Hajj airlifts. The Nigerian team also invited the Minister of Hajj and Umrah to visit Nigeria.

In response, the Saudi Minster, Dr Rabiah, acknowledged the challenge of space in Mina and assured that efforts were being made to maximize the use of the available two Million square meters for the over two million pilgrims performing Hajj annually. He expressed the Ministry’s support for all measures aimed at giving pilgrims the best services. Dr Rabiah accepted to visit Nigeria soon.

Other dignitaries from Nigeria that witnessed the ceremony included Nigerian Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Bello HussainiKazaure, senior officers from the Nigerian Mission in Saudi Arabia and NAHCON.

Thereafter, series of meetings and bi-lateral engagements were held with various stakeholders with a view to seek improved services delivery for Nigerian pilgrims.

On January 9 for instance, Malam Arabi visited the Vice President (Operations), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB),Dr Mansur Mukhtar and sought for consolidation of the relationship established with the bank. NAHCON head expressed gratitude to DrMukhtarfor the technical assistance that NAHCON received in 2019 that facilitated an understudy and establishment of the Hajj Savings Scheme and the Hajj Institute of Nigeria.

The chairman placed a request for engagement of Nigeria’s abundant skilled manpower such as Veterinary Doctors, manual labourers to offer services during Hajj especially under Hadaya. He equally requested IsDB to open a market for Nigeria to export sacrificial animals to Saudi.

Assessment of alternative service providers includingpilgrims’ Muttawif Establishments while understudying their packagesengaged the attention of Malam Arabi on January 10. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had created windows for countries to select Pilgrims’ Establishment Mutawwif Companies of their choice as a way of encouraging competition favorable to pilgrims. As a result, Malam Arabi interacted with the MashariqMutawwif Establishment. Earlier, he had consulted with Dr Abdulrahman Bejawi, Deputy Minister of Hajj in charge of Umrah and Ziyara in Madina. There, he sought commitment on issues concerning welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and safety of their property too. Malam Arabi equally eagerly accepted the Makkah Route project offered by the Deputy Minister. Nigeria is among the seven countries offered the services.According to Dr Bejawi, over 30 countries have shown interest in the initiative.

NAHCON chief also signed agreements with General Car syndicate, the United Agents Office as well as the Adillah Establishment of Madinah.

It would be recalled that before the departure of Nigerian contingent to Jeddah Expo, the federal government had, last Friday, announced the approval of three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The carriers selected after thorough screening exercise are Saudi Arabia-based FlyNass, Kano-based Max air and Air Peace Ltd.

A statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit of NAHCON,Fatima Usara, also indicated allocation of pilgrims from various states, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as Armed Forces passengers to each of the approved airlines.

Max Air with the highest allocation is responsible for the conveyance of pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states.
Similarly, the Lagos-based Air Peace is scheduled to transport intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers.
FlyNas will airlift pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun,Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara.

Also approved as reflected in the statement were three air cargo companies to airfreight pilgrims’ excess loggage. They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, NahcoAviance and Qualla Investment Limited.

The approval reinforces government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for the intending pilgrims.

Indeed, the allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on airlift of pilgrims under government quota.

However, state governments are permitted by NAHCON to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage. In that case, what is required is for such states to official communicate such resolution to the commission accordingly.

The harvest of glad tidings began late last year with the extension of the deadline of 2024 Hajj registration and payment of deposit of N4.5m from December 31, 2023 to January 31, 2024.

It is hoped that all intending pilgrims are perfecting their plans and arrangements to meet up with the new date. May Allah (SWT) bless the journey as “Hajjanmabruran, sa’yanmashkuuran, ‘amalansaalihanmaqbulan, watijaratanlantabura.” Aameen!