News Editor
By Ibrahim Muhammed
Last Thursday, I attended the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on the amendment of the NAHCON Establishment Act 2006. The States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards Executive Secretaries under the umbrella of Forum of States Executives sought the amendment of section 4 of the NAHCON Act.
The proposed amendment sought for the following: That Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after subsection 3, a new sub-clause “(4)” – “(6)” “(4) The Commission shall involve States of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory in the selection of Airline Agencies for Hajj operations to promote efficiency and public accountability; (5) allow states to manage the feeding of pilgrims in Madinah and Muna consistent with guidelines as formulated by the Commission; and (6) facilitate timely refund of such amount out of Hajj fare paid by a pilgrim for any transportation, accommodation or feeding services not rendered.”
First, I commended Senator Sani Bello, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, for his sincerity, maturity, and purposeful leadership. He did not allow sentiments and unnecessary emotional displays to sway the proceedings toward personal directions and remained focused throughout.
I am trying to understand what are the objectives of the proposed amendment in the context of ‘promoting efficiency in hajj operation’ as highlighted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Out of curiosity, I immediately pulled my laptop to begin research on ‘How does the involvement of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards in the selection of airlines can result in safety, security and timely airlift of Nigeria pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and back. Exploring ways such amendment can reduce the skyrocketing Hajj fare for Nigeria pilgrims – a more urgent desirability in Nigeria’s Hajj Industry – I am yet to lay my hands on any clue.
I could have featured the narration of the proceeding but I don’t want to preempt the outcome of the hearing or sway a public opinion on the matter.
The complexity of feeding in Madina as a transit point has been explained at the hearing but none of the contributors either from NAHCON or the States that oppose the status quo highlights how the proposed amendments will improve the quality of the menu and timeline of feeding pilgrims in Madina. The whole arguments revolve around “allowing states to handle or control the feeding while NAHCON is insisting on being in charge in Madina. The objectives ought to be how to improve the services to the Guest of Al Rahama.
The issue of Hajj refunds could have been an administrative issue between NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards. Amending the NAHCON ACT will not add any value to the timely refunds unless there is sincerity, honesty and transparency in the management of Hajj finances by all parties concerned. No matter the level of amendment, there will be no significant changes in the operations once the operators are not transparent and accountable.
In the process of seeking justice, it is said that ‘both the person who accused someone and the person being accused know the truth of the matter, it is the Judge who is presiding over the case that is actually on trial. Yes, the Executive Secretaries of States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria understand why the bone becomes the ‘bone of contention’, it is the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and by Extension the National Assembly that is on trial.
The selection of the airline, feeding in Makkah and Madina and timely refunds are the subject matter but the entire session was dominated by the issue of the airline thereby relegating the other equally important issues to the background. Specifically, the issue of allowing Saudi designated Air Carrier to taking part in the airlift of Nigeria pilgrims based on the Bilateral Air Service Agreement takes the Centre of discussion.
First, no patriotic Nigerian will prefer a foreign airline to our local airline in the airlift of Hajj pilgrims. Part of the problem bedevilling Nigeria’s economy is the issue of Capital flight and there is a need to take a serious look at any agreement that will deprive our local airline of reaping the economic of the hajj airlift.
The back-and-forth argument about an agreement with Saudi Arabia on the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims should be settled at once and allow stability in the operational planning.
However, I came across a report stating that Saudi Arabia’s designated airline transported over 100,000 Hajj pilgrims from 13 different countries during the 2023 Hajj.
The reports which were published in Bangladesh News Daily stated that Flynas, the Saudi-designated air carrier has transported more than 100,000 pilgrims from more than 13 countries during the Hajj season of 1444 AH (2023 AD), bringing the total number of pilgrims and Umrah performers flown by the carrier to more than two million since its establishment in 2007.
The nations which Flynas transported pilgrims in 1444 AH are spread across Asia and Africa and include Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, Niger, Comoros, India, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan.
According to another report in Bangladesh Newspaper (Daily Star) “Since 2012, Biman and Saudia (Saudi Airline) were the only two airlines transporting hajj pilgrims from Bangladesh as per a hajj agreement signed between the two countries that year.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) in a letter on the 3rd of May 2022, gave the go-ahead to another Saudi Airline Flynas to ferry Bangladesh pilgrims thereby, breaking the duopoly of the hajj passenger transport business of Biman and Saudia.
While we are arguing about who takes charge of what, Saudi Arabia has floated Riyadh Air with a futuristic plan dedicating Saudia and Flynas for the transportation of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
In reality, Nigerian intending pilgrims do not care who provides what services during hajj operations. All they are interested in is the provision of quality and commensurate services as at when due to enable them to perform hajj rites with ease and comfort.
What is needed at the moment is an amendment in the mindset and attitudes of hajj administrators in the Hajj Industry; NAHCON, States Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and Private Hajj Operators inclusive. Our penchant for exhibiting half-baked sincerity to paint the other agency black is destroying the entire industry. It is our industry and it is not just another worldly affair but rather a religious based institution.
Muhammed is the National Coordinator, Independent Hajj Reporters
END
Be productive, adopt people centered approach to governance— Anglican Bishop urges FG, others
Abdullahi Ibrahim in Lafia
Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lafia, Rt. Rev. Godwin Robinson have the admonition Saturday during a humily at St James Cathedral Lafia,in an event to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Diocese.
Bishop Robinson urged the Federal government and others to adopt People’s oriented approach to governance to a direction to hardship in the country.
He explained that people are going through a lot of difficulties in terms of the daily increase in the prices of goods and services, security, and morality bankruptcy, among others.
He advised the government to keep to it’s promised to make the lives of the people better and improve their welfare during electioneering.
“Government at all levels must desist from further introducing policies that would add more hardships to the people.
He advised leaders at all levels to ensure that they leave the country better than they met it, in terms of the economy, security, and general welfare of the citizenry.
He, however, commended the government for the efforts toward tackling the economy and security challenges but said that they needed to redouble their efforts in that respect.
On the silver jubilee of the church, the Bishop said that the Diocese had made tremendous progress within 25 years after its creation.
“We started with only four archdeaconries and 27 Priests, but today, we have 20 archdeaconries and four Deaneries, over 90 Priests, 40 evangelists and more than 30 Primary and Secondary Schools across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
“We have built and dedicated a Bishop residence, and we will inaugurate a Diocesan Secretariat today.
“We also planned to commence Pastoral Centre along Kurikyo Road in Lafia, which will serve as a hub for retreat, recreation and spiritual rejuvenation,” he added.
The Anglican Bishop further said that the church had countless reasons to thank God for the progress made over the last 25 years.
He added that thanksgiving unlocks a treasure of blessings, dismantles the power of negativity, and draws the people closer to God.
He, therefore, reminded the people to always give thanks to God and do things that bring praise to his name to help reclaim the country back to God.
On his part, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Nyitsse, Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Gboko, Benue State who came to rejoice with Lafia Diocese on the celebration, commended the Bishop of Lafia for the feat achieved.
On the security situation in the country, the bishop said some successes were made, but appealed to the government and citizens to join hands with the government to achieve a lasting peace.
He added that the church is an instrument of peace and loved that the nation live in peace.
He further said that the insecurity in the country had affected the church as well, to the extent that churches can no longer operate in some parts of the country.
The Anglican Bishop of Gboko, therefore, prayed to God to help President Bola Tinubu to enable Hitler to take good care of Nigerians.
