Hajj 2024: NAHCON deploys advance team to Saudi

Ahead of the inaugural flight of intending pilgrims, the advance team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will depart Abuja tomorrow for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The advance team of 35 officials and eight medical personnel will perfect final preparation to receive the first set of Nigerian pilgrims from Kebbi State scheduled to arrive in the Kingdom on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Addressing the Team during a brief farewell ceremony yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the commission, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, urged the contingent to live up to expectations.

Arabi cautioned that the commission would take drastic steps against anyone found deviating from the rules of engagement, adding that he would not hesitate to recall any staff guilty of dereliction of duties.

“You are the first point of call or contact with the pilgrims. Their impression and perception of your action or activities will go a long way toward assessing the commission.

If you get it right, we get it right and on the contrary, if you get it wrong, the rest will just be about crisis management.

“Therefore, you must be up and doing in order to earn our reward here and that of Allah in the hereafter for treating His Guests well. They are the reason you are there; so at every point in time, make sure you attend or treat them with courtesy and respect.

“You are advised to take the admonition seriously; the bar has been raised and the expectation is high. You have been carefully selected because of the trust we have in you and as such, you need to brace up. Laxity and procrastination will not be tolerated,” Arabi said.