The newly appointed Ag Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Ahmad Arabi, formally assumed office yesterday with a pledge to vigorously pursue the vision and mission of the commission with the sole aim of seeing to the best interest of pilgrims.
He stated this in his address while being welcomed to the Hajj house, stressing that his appointment was not only a privilege, but a call to service.
The Chairman added that his goals will be in line with a mantra of Trust, Sacrifice and Allah knows best (TSA) with the sole objective of improving the services rendered to pilgrims.
“My appointment was a privilege. I am lucky to be called upon to serve the guests of Allah, knowing fully well that the reward for serving the guest of Allah will be both here and Hereafter.
“I know like all establishments, we have our mission, vision and it is being pursued vigorously before now but certainly there is always room for improvement in whatever endeavour.
“Of course, without prejudice to what we intend to achieve through our vision and mission, I have come with three nouns that will be so cardinal and of course will be laying on the tripod of all we do. I call them ‘TSA’ and my definition is entirely different from the TSA you know.
Let me start with my T – Trust. I know most of us, if not all, know the burden of trust and responsibility on any Muslim that is so charged to carry that trust. My ‘S’ is Sacrifice. Whoever is entrusted with trust knows that he or she must make sacrifice and my A is Allah. Allah knows all.”
Earlier, the outgoing Commissioner in charge of finance, Nura Hassan Yakasai, who spoke on behalf of the former Chairman, Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, applauded the appointment of the new chairman just as he reminded him that the tasks ahead were enormous and very challenging.
“We congratulate you for your appointment. The outgoing chairman would have wished to be here but due to some reasons beyond his control, he couldn’t make it. But I believe he will be here in the afternoon or when he will be able to meet you.
“Apart from that, I just want to mention that you are coming in or stepping into the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria at a critical time, at the time when all the preparations for Hajj 2024 are supposed to start or have already started.
” And unfortunately, this time around, the period or time given by the Saudi authority is different from the traditional ones where we have sufficient time to do whatever we want to do or arrange. Unfortunately, you have a very short time. The assurance I will give is that you have capable staff here that can assist you to succeed, and it is our hope and prayers that you succeed,” he stated.
The statement by Musa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director, Information and Publication, said the new chairman was accompanied by the former FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Moddibo; former Executive Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Abdullahi Muktar Muhammed; the ex-Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance, Yusuf Adebayo Ibrahim; Special Assistant to the President on Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz; and former Secretary to the Commission, Ahmed Maigari among a host of other personalities and family members.
