News Editor
By Olu Balogun
Ahead of this year’s Hajj, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, on Tuesday led a delegation from the commission on a working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA for major arrangements on the holy pilgrimage.
The visit, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publications, Fatima Sanda Usara, is at the invitation of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, MoHU.
Usara explained that “the purpose of the visit is to prepare for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for the 2025 Hajj and to finalize other arrangements for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.”
She further disclosed that major activities to embark upon during the visit include the bilateral meeting and MoU signing for the 2025 Hajj on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, scheduled for January 12, 2025.
Usara added that the delegation would also attend the International Hajj Expo beginning on January 13, 2025, where they will explore and evaluate service provider options for Nigerian pilgrims.
“Ahead of these major events, Prof. Saleh and his team will engage in consular meetings, visits and meetings with heads of other countries’ Hajj missions, discussions with the supervisors of the Hajj e-track registration portal, discussions with General Authority of Civil Aviation, GACA and consultations with stakeholders to finalize the Commission’s preparations for the MoU signing.
“Following these engagements, various contracts will be signed based on the agreements reached. The agreement will include signing of contracts with United Agents, Car Syndicates, Tafweej, Adillah in Madinah, Health Supervision Comany, etc,” she stated.
The Assistant Director also informed that other NAHCON staff will inspect accommodation, catering facilities, and medical establishments in Makkah and Madinah to ensure they meet the required standards before formal agreements are made.
She listed other members of the delegation are the NAHCON’s Commissioners for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information, and Library Services, PRSILS, Prof. Abubakar Yagawal; Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing Services,OILS, Prince Anofiu Elegushi; and Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, PPMF, Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq.
Others are the representatives from the States Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions, SPWB/A/C and Private Tour Operators, PTOs, who are expected to join the delegation, while representatives from the National Assembly, the Presidency, the aviation industry, and selected NAHCON board members are to provide oversight and facilitate decision-making during the visit.
