News Editor
By David Odama
A faith-based Civil Society Organization, CSO that advocates for better policies, monitors and reports on Hajj and Umrah activities, the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has advised the Nigerian Hajj operations community to choose the right service providers for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
The organization, in a statement signed and released on Sunday by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad from Makkah, Saudi Arabia, said: “We advise the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON to create a template for State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Private Hajj operators to pick the best service providers that will offer excellent services to Nigerian pilgrims this year.”
While acknowledging the challenges being faced by NAHCON, owing to instability in its leadership, it however, said that the commission would be better off if it considers signing a long-term contract with Saudi-based service providers.
IHR said the call becomes more important now in view of the reality of uncertainties in Hajj cost projections and the impact of the ongoing massive reconstruction and expansion projects in the Holy City of Makkah and Madina in Saudi Arabia.
‘Securing accommodation within a few kilometers from Haram in Makkah is becoming increasingly competitive.
“Agreeing to a three-year contract will save the Nigerian Hajj industry from the yearly rituals of coming to Saudi Arabia to search, negotiate, and sign contracts with service providers, especially when it is certain that Hajj operations are a yearly affair,” IHR said.
The CSO added that searching for service providers on a yearly basis negatively affects the quality of services offered because service providers are not sure of securing contracts or how many pilgrims they are expected to serve.
“Serving thousands of pilgrims required adequate time for planning and preparation and also connoted certainty.
“For example, Malaysia recently signed a six-year contract with an airline and also signed a three-year agreement with its service providers in Masha’ir,” it further stressed.
The Nigerian delegation, according to the statement, is expected to sign contracts with Saudi companies in a few days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying that “states and private companies should negotiate three-year contracts to reduce Hajj fares and create stability in Hajj management in Nigeria.”
